PAS to determine its fate, DAP is key

JUNE 22, 2009 — It certainly seems that the issue of a unity government between PAS and Umno will not be settled in the near future.
After PAS spiritual leader Datuk Nik Aziz Nik Mat came out strongly against the “liberal-towards-Umno” party deputy president Nasharuddin Mat Isa and urged him to join Umno, 10 out of PAS’s 19 MPs issued a statement declaring their support for Nik Aziz and rejecting PAS-Umno cooperation.
These 10 MPs are not only from the “Erdogan” or pro-Pakatan clan, they also include some very respectable ulama like Taib Azamudeen.
Surprisingly, vice-presidents Salahuddin Ayub and Mahfuz Omar, who are known for their pro-Pakatan stand and are even Anwaristas of sorts, played safe by not putting their name to the strongly-worded statement by the 10 MPs.
They are probably thinking of their VP positions or not wanting to incur the wrath of their president Datuk Seri Hadi Awang, as Nasha is known to be close to Hadi.
However, they urged Nasha to meet Nik Aziz to resolve their differences behind closed doors.
Nik Aziz's outburst is probably due to his anger at the loss by his blue-eyed boy Datuk Husam Musa and several other Kelantan PAS leaders like Nik Amar at the recent party elections.
After it became public knowledge that PAS and Umno top leaders had held discussions and negotiations after the severe losses by Umno at last year’s general election tsunami, the cooperation took different twists and turns.
Former VP Ahmad Awang has also revealed that there had been attempts by certain PAS leaders to influence him to cooperate and form a coalition government with Umno in Perak a few days after the 2008 general election.
Some senior leaders in PAS and also most of their grassroots members were kept in the dark of the secret talks.
After it was revealed that the negotiations actually did took place, PAS used the term muzakarah and muqabalah to justify its indiscretion even though the party had agreed to form a pact with PKR and DAP.
During their brief rendezvous, Umno dangled the carrot to Nasha on the possibility of him being appointed deputy prime minister and Datuk Hassan Ali appointed Selangor mentri besar.
These very juicy positions have swayed the aqidah (faith) of these PAS leaders until now.
Hence, when the issue of a unity government was raised from the dead by Hadi, Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin was not receptive to the idea as it would mean that he would have to share his DPM's post or even lose it to Nasha.
However, sensing that this idea might not go anywhere and bound to be shot down due to Nik Aziz’s fierce resistance as well as the extensive damage that it may cause Pakatan Rakyat, Muhyiddin played along and poured oil on the flame, calling for the talks to be expedited.
PAS as a party is bound to lose the most if the unity government talks bear fruit and it joins Barisan Nasional.
Only individuals like Nasha, secretary-general Mustafa Ali and Hassan would gain the most with the hard-to-resist offer of DPM and MB.
Hadi will find it easy to legitimise the cooperation between the two parties with the fate of the Malay race and the position of Islam as their main concern.
PAS would also be able to reason that the party is merely undertaking to preach or dakwah or tarbiyyah its arch-rival Umno as justified by the dogmatic Youth chief Nasruddin Hassan Tantawi.
Any potential Umno-PAS government will not only split the party but also destroy the image of PAS as a friendly party to the non-Muslims and non-Malays alike.
While some Malays will genuinely feel overjoyed by the alliance of the two biggest Malay parties in the country, a significant proportion of the community will definitely quit PAS to join PKR.
After the 2008 general election, BN has harped on the dilution of Malay power and instilled the feeling in the older generation as well as the old-schooled Malay population that Umno is the final bastion for the Malays.
Even if some see it as psychological warfare by Umno, some of these fears are real and the issues will remain and will be the determining factor in Pakatan’s bid to rule Putrajaya.
DAP, portrayed as a chauvinistic Chinese-dominated party, will have to play a major role to ensure the small win in the 2008 general election becomes an overwhelming victory in the 2013 general election.
The softening of its overly defensive and overzealous stance especially on issues of race relations will go a long way to building the confidence of the Malays.
Championing issues which the Malays regard as sacred like the promotion of Bahasa Malaysia as the language that unites all Malaysians will build the affection of the Malays towards to party.
This can be done by improving the command of the language by some DAP MPs and assemblymen to the impeccable standard shown by veterans like Tan Seng Giaw.
Improving the infrastructure and livelihood of the poor (most of whom are Malays) especially in states like Penang will endear the Malays to the party even more.
DAP's unflinching defence of Islam as the official religion of the federation by improving the maintenance of rundown mosques or madrasahs through allocations and small projects can be highlighted to show its empathy.
If DAP can undertake these changes, not cosmetically but more importantly with sincerity, the party will be the key to unlocking the gates for Pakatan on its march towards Putrajaya.
Whether PAS remains a member of Pakatan in the next general election or not, the understanding of the mood and sentiment of the people must be astute and measured well.
PAS must choose between the short path that rewards certain individuals with positions of power or the realisation that the Malays can be won over with pragmatism not extremism.
Misreading the signals and real issues on the ground affecting all Malaysians by leaders of DAP and PAS will not enable Pakatan to espouse its viability and exude confidence with the people.
The notion that DAP and PAS represent the two extremes of Malaysian politics must be quashed to project a more progressive and moderate face of Pakatam to win the hearts and minds of the people.

- published in The Malaysian Insider : June 22, 2009