Why a non-Muslim would prefer PAS to Umno

At a time when UMNO president, Prime Minister Najib Razak's 1Malaysia slogan is fast losing credibility, Mukhriz Mahathir has expressed unhappiness over PAS' new leadership lineup. Mukhriz even blamed the Islamist party for being “adamant in splitting Malays up for their own purposes”.

Why is UMNO being so negative about PAS' latest move. Why do they keep knocking PAS down? As politicians, UMNO leaders sure seem slow to grasp the fact that if PAS is not as Malay as before, it is in fact advantageous to them. So what is truly bugging UMNO? Why is it griping?

Since the late 1980s, PAS has been painted by the government of the day as being the worst thing to walk the planet. That non-Muslims in Malaysia will suffer the wrath of hell, if PAS ever forms the government. And this fear was played to great effect, with the majority of the non-Muslim votes going Barisan Nasional’s way.

For most Sarawakians and Sabahans, PAS was the epitome of evil in Malaysia. A phantom whose only agenda was to deprive the non-Muslims of their right to practise their faith of choice.

This was the religious propaganda fed by Barisan Nasional to the masses, but of late, the 'spin' has boomeranged back into its own face.

Adapting to the times

As PAS moves forward, adapting itself to meet a progressively changing world, UMNO is stuck in a rut of its own making and has now been reduced to being the spectator-stand critic.

So what if PAS decides to have a change in management? At least, PAS is not afraid to take on the risk of changing or to try and take on new ideas. It certainly seems more secure about its supporter base than UMNO.

And among the non-Muslims, PAS is increasingly seen as being more moderate than UMNO. As PAS began to tone down and shift into the main stream, UMNO had gone the opposite way. So who is now the real evil force that has persistently chosen to split the communities in Malaysia? The answer has become much clearer.

Mukhriz Mahathir should broaden his view slightly and maybe he will catch a glimpse of what PAS is really doing. PAS does not seem to be interested in the unity of just one community, instead PAS is looking at attracting those who have shun it due to the religious propaganda spewed by UMNO.

When the Alkitab row exploded onto the scene, weeks before the Sarawak polls, it was PAS who gave the more moderate comments. And while Perkasa screamed their lungs out defending Islam from an imaginary foe that danced in Ibrahim Ali’s mind, PAS took the more Islamic approach of being calm in the face of adversity.

During the Sarawak state election, people were drawn to Nik Aziz’s quiet and serene demeanour. Here was a politician people respected and looked up to and who did not create a fuss when he was in town.

Panic at UMNO

When Prime Minister Najib Razak made a showy splash, bringing his entire Cabinet to campaign in Sarawak, Nik Aziz came alone. On arrival at the Kuching International Airport, a state officer recognized the Kelantan Mentri Besar and quietly ushered him to the VIP lounge. The officer later recounted how humble Nik Aziz had been while the other BN officials had paraded themselves like rock-stars.

It is even more odd that UMNO is unhappy that PAS president Hadi Awang has declared that the party will place priority on making Malaysia a 'welfare' state.

While UMNO remains tunnel-visioned and thinks only of the Malays, PAS is expanding its view and reach to encompass all Malaysians. PAS cetrainly seems to embody more of the spirit espoused in 1Malaysia than UMNO.

For close to 60 years, Malaysia has known only one brand of government - the one sold by the BN. And though UMNO may criticise the changes PAS are making, UMNO has missed the mark all together.

PAS is not out to please UMNO or the Malay majority per se. Neither is it abandoning its Islamic roots. It just wants to form more bonds with the non-Muslims and non-Malays. The party wants to engage with the large majority of Malaysians who see beyond race and religion. It is certainly working hard to find more ways to build a better Malaysia together with the people and regardless of race or religion.

Anything wrong with that? Then, why is UMNO getting into such a flap?

- Malaysia Chronicle