The demise of Umno in Selangor and the rise of PAS and Pakatan Rakyat

*8^th January 2010 saw the sacking of Hassan Ali (Adun - Gombak Setia) as a PAS member. By virtue of this he was dropped from the state executive council (exco). 18^th January saw the well-liked Ahmad Yunus Hairi (Adun - Sijankang) being appointed to the exco (Malay Customs, Youth and Sports) in place of Hassan. An elated Sijangkang resident had this to say on Yunus’ appointment: “He is a responsible YB. He deserves to be in the exco.”

PAS’ wisdom to appoint a medical professional to the state Exco is another constructive step for the party to entrench itself as a national player in politics. Ahmad’s appointment will go down well amongst the Malays and the non-Malays. “Yunus has always been kind and generous as a doctor,” said a Chinese resident in Sijangkang.

This is not the first time PAS has appointment a profesional to hold strategic administrative positions. At one time, PAS chose Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin - an engineer by profesion – to helm the state of Perak after the 2008 general election. He proved himself to become a resourceful leader. He remains popular even after he was ousted as MB after the 2009 political fiasco in the state.

With Yunus’ appointment, Selangor PAS has erased one knotty episode in its administration when they had to bear with the problematic and intractable Hassan for the past four years.

Conspiracy to sack him

PAS will triumph with more professionals joining the party as opposed to UMNO. Selangor is not facing a dearth of accomplished PAS leaders. Many highly educated Muslim professionals cheesed off with UMNO’s style of race politics are becoming PAS members of late. PAS today is no more perceived as a party that can only handle religious matters. It has evolved to become an entity that can effectively govern a state and also the country. In the case of Selangor, all PAS assemblymen are highly educated – secular and non-secular - and are able to handle with great moral and religious integrity any portfolio given to them.

Abdul Rani Osman (Adun- Meru) is the successor of Hassan as the PAS Selangor chief. Since the affable Rani was not appointed to the  exco, Hassan has no ammunition to attack Rani for conspiracy to sack him for the party control of the state. Besides, Hassan cannot dent PAS with his present silly ‘sour grape’ rhetoric demonising PAS and claiming that the party is ‘infested with parasites’  “His divisive agenda is self-destructive. PAS members are too wise to fall into his devious trap. He is a loner now,” said a PAS supporter in Gombak Setia.

Hassan has dug his own grave having tomfoolery with his feelings. His lack of patience to fast-track his climb up the ladder of politics made him fall flat in politics. His political future is now drab. Even if he joins UMNO, he will not be able to wipe away his already tarnished image as a politician. Becoming a rebel after being sacked from the party will make him none the wiser. Neither will his wild stance criticising Anwar Ibrahim affect the Pakatan Pact.

The people see no ‘parasites’ in PAS or Pakatan, as claimed by Hassan They only see in PAS as a sincere party working together with DAP and PKR on some common and crucial platforms to bring justice to the country. Undeniably, Pakatan has already become an alternative to Barisan. With the advent of Pakatan, a two-party system in the country is born and the people want this formula to remain. Hassan on his part could not see the forest for the trees. Regretfully, his political acumen does not reflect his high qualification. He has been too idealistic all the way and ‘a man in a hurry’ to see himself at the helm in Selangor.

Saboteurs have no place in PAS

With Hassan Ali out of the party now, it looks like PAS has become more stable in Selangor. “PAS in Selangor will not wither without Hassan. PAS is actually gaining momentum in Selangor and the country because of its more practical approach to politics in a multi-racial and multi-religious Malaysia,” said a voter in Meru.

According to some political observers, Hassan’s ‘road show’ to garner support for his cause is a futile effort on his part. If he has any scheme to form a ‘third force’ to hurt PAS then he must be pulling the wool over the people’s eyes. “PAS is not a party that promulgate a cult culture. As opposed to UMNO, a leader in PAS can sometimes become insignificant. In PAS politics, the party always comes first as the party’s struggle is based on religious foundations as opposed to UMNO, which is based on nationalism.

“It is not the first time a high-ranking leader has been sacked from the party. This has happened in the past but PAS had always come out of the muddle unscathed,” said a PAS supporter in Gombak Setia. He added, “ Saboteurs have no place in PAS and as for Hassan he will soon fade into oblivion. Perhaps, UMNO may recruit him to run errands for the party to face the next general election.”

PAS leaders do not necessarily be the natural choice to lead over Islamic issues, especially when Islam is seen to be used as a tool by some politicians to destroy the Pakatan government in Selangor. Any Muslim who adheres to the principle of justice can do this job as saviour of the religion. To switch the contentious Islamic Affairs portfolio to the MB himself is a very wise strategy.

This makes the MB directly taking charge of this susceptible and vulnerable portfolio. In the Selangor scenario where JAIS is often perceived as an UMNO stooge, the state government cannot afford to have another stooge ‘to play to the Islamic gallery’ to sabotage the state government. UMNO’s ‘evil forces’ under the pretext of government servants and religious saviours will have less opportunity to incite and disrupt the Pakatan government.

More Muslim professionals leading PAS

Unlike the PAS of many decades ago,  PAS of today has many capable members from all walks of life in their team. With more Muslim professionals joining and leading PAS will make the party more palatable to the young and non-Muslims. They are more open-minded and more ready to work with the non-Muslims. PAS is aware that only with God-fearing Muslim professionals playing  a prominent role in the party can they endear themselves to the present generation Malaysians – Muslims and non-Muslims.

PAS leaders concur that to garner support, the party’s thrusts have to be on integrity, the economy and social justice for the people. In the two states helmed by PAS MBs they can be seen promoting a government of integrity, racial tolerance and economic justice. “A  Muslim profesional does not need to be an ulamak to lead PAS. But he must be economically knowledgeable. And if he has the integrity and is God-fearing, he makes a good leader. It’s hard to find sincere and honest leaders in UMNO these days. PAS will provide the alternative.” said a senior PAS leader in Selangor.

Khalid is wary of the UMNO tools at work to destroy Pakatan rule in Selangor. To him divisive politics is no panacea for a multi-racial society. Excessive manipulation of sensitive issues – especially on religion – often creates division in a multi-racial society. Khalid is a Muslim and has proven to be a sincere leader who is keenly aware of the rights and sensitivities of religions in his state. Throughout his four years as MB he has always adopted a fair-minded pose when dealing with racial or religious issues. He has to be respected for all this effort.

The 2008 general election saw a huge number of non-Malays voting for PAS candidates – Gombak Setia not excluded. PAS is cognizant of the fact that it cannot become a national player without the non-Muslim support. PAS on its part also has been drawing more and more educated Muslims into its fold when they see the failure of UMNO to govern the country unsoiled. A significant number of fresh graduates and professionals who feel disappointed with UMNO have now joined PAS to save the nation from widespread corruption, cronyism and abuse of taxpayers’ money. These are young Malaysians who will chart the nation’s future. As long as PAS remains a moderate Islamic party it will not only win the hearts of the moderate Muslims but also the non-Muslims in the country.

PAS will remain as a formidable party

One unique facet of PAS is that it is very party oriented rather than too leader centric. Since the party is built on religious foundations party members have been groomed to struggle for the party rather than the leader or self-interest. This has made the party survive in Malaysian politics for many decades. Many PAS prominent leaders had left PAS or were sacked in the past but the party has remained sturdy. “Leaders come and go but the party has remained unscathed,” said a PAS member in Meru.

PAS today is seen as a progressive party – no more labelled as a party exclusively for those ‘with a skull cap on their head’. PAS has morphed into a national entity that has drawn support from the rural as well as the urban electorate. It has matured into and become a party that can replace UMNO in this country. Muslim professionals contribute to a big chunk of PAS members today. PAS has also lured non-Muslims into its fold for its moderate stand on race and religion. When UMNO yelp on race and religion, PAS has shown tolerance and moderation. Kelantan for instance has become a showcase for all Malaysians to observe how a multi-racial society can live in peace and harmony. And the voters today are not hesitant to see PAS be part of Pakatan to lead the country.

PAS will therefore remain as a dependable party in Pakatan Pact  representing the majority Malay Muslims in the country. There was a time when the non-Muslims looked at PAS with contempt. A former Prime Minister described PAS as a ‘regressive’ party. PAS has proved them all wrong. PAS has endeared itself to the people for some simple reasons: The people feel that UMNO is corrupted to the core after too long in power. Systemic corruption crept into the system since 1981 – during Mahathir’s era. This social menace was allowed to rear its ugly head for 22 years and has continued until today. There is no sign that this pain in the neck will ebb.

UMNO and BN have become vehicles for members to enrich themselves. UMNO is playing the race card to stay in power. The secular and Machiavellian approach to politics by UMNO and BN subscribe to a dangerous level of injustice. When corruption, nepotism and cronyism favour only a handful of UMNO and BN cronies the majority of the people are left with crumbs to share. Only leaders with religious virtues in them could save the country from all this mess.

According to political observers, Selangor will remain under Pakatan government after the next general election. At the national level, the people in general are now anxious to see a two-coalition political system in the country. “After the dust has settled in Selangor, PAS can now play a more crucial role in the Pakatan Pact to bring greater co-operation and prosperity to the country at the national level,” said a pro-PAS government servant in Selangor. Unlike UMNO, when PAS opens its doors to non-Malays, non-Muslims and the non-Bumiputera the party will truly reflect the aspiration of all Malaysians. PAS will now be in a better political position than UMNO to win the hearts of the Malays and all Malaysians. As for its coalition members, DAP and PKR they are essentially multi-racial. This bodes well for the country. Maturity has now prevailed among Malaysians, as they could sense the need for such a rejuvenated  entity in this societal foundation of theirs.

“The electorate must be given a clear choice as to which coalition should be given the opportunity to govern Malaysia for the next five years. A long-lasting  two-party system must occur this time in the country.  One-party rule only breeds more corruption and abuse of power,” jibed an ex-UMNO member.

Malaysia Chronicle