PAS has signalled its rejection of the “grand collaboration” idea proposed by Umno at its recent annual general assembly.
Claiming that PAS chooses unity “in accordance with Allah’s decree”, PAS president Hadi Awang also explained why the party refuses to join other parties in forming a unity government.
He said the unity government formed after the last general election involves “silent devils” (syaitan bisu) and other groups not aligned with the party.
“This is the reason PAS is not with the unity government, which is based on a free concept unbounded by Allah’s decree, realised by the Pakatan Harapan government involving groups professing pluralism, liberalism, including extremist groups as well as silent devils towards wrongdoing and others,” he wrote in a long post today.
The label “silent devils” is a derogatory term used by PAS against certain groups, including religious scholars who do not agree with them.
In the same post, Hadi said the proposed collaboration would not resolve the divisions between the unity government's component parties.
The Marang MP also claimed the parties involved are “collapsing and consuming themselves”.
“This situation is like being with passengers on a vessel that is severely leaking. Even if it is branded as a grand unity, like a large flagship, but its leaks are getting bigger,” added Hadi.
Not through the ignorant
According to him, PAS cannot board a vessel that cannot control its passengers when they “quarrel in defending their respective interests” and follow different directions.
The captain, he added, is not steadfast (istiqamah) in facing waves from the east and west, besides “crashing into reefs” in celebrating “damaging differences in the name of unity”.
Therefore, Hadi said PAS follows the Prophet Muhammad's example, but is anchored on “powerful Malay-Muslim unity” and the “humanity of a plural society that accepts Islamic leadership”.
“All discussions should come from among scholars who are deeply knowledgeable in religion (tafaqquh) in Islamic affairs, not through the ignorant.
“Nor (should it come) through scholars who are not tafaqquh or those who put their reasoning at the service of their physical appetites, for the Islamic solution is inherently scholarly with broad academic traits and honoured reason, guided by scriptural texts (nas) that are immutable and nas that allow for adaptation to the changing world and humanity, as well as general policies,” he said.
PAS information chief Ahmad Fadhli Shaari also dismissed the “grand collaboration”, describing it as unconvincing despite its impressive-sounding name.
He pointed to an apparent contradiction in Umno vice-president Johari Ghani’s call to realise the collaboration before the next general election, and Umno information chief Azalina Othman Said’s assertion that it is not a political coalition intended to threaten the Madani government.
“Why the need to link it directly to the election? If it is true, it is a mere collaboration, make a cooperation for social or community purposes, like a large feast or a unity gathering, without any political goals,” he wrote in a Facebook post.
Fadhli said it remains to be seen how far this idea would go.
“However, upon seeing Ahmad Zahid Hamidi retract part of his speech regarding the ‘Team A and Team B in DAP’ issue after being flatly refuted by the DAP secretary-general, concerns arise about the extent to which the firmness of the ‘grand collaboration’ idea can be maintained,” he added.
‘Grand collaboration’
On Saturday, Zahid stated Umno's desire to unite all Malay and Islamic parties under one coalition - known as a grand collaboration - without undermining the Madani government.
The Umno president said he hopes the grand collaboration can truly unite the spirit and struggle of Malay-Muslim parties in a larger framework.
Zahid also said Umno does not want any party joining the collaboration to dissolve their respective organisations, but rather to be together informally first as an initial step.
Zahid’s comments follow continued uncertainty regarding Perikatan Nasional's leadership, as PAS and Bersatu have yet to decide on the coalition’s chair.
Hadi himself has written a letter requesting that the PN supreme council hold an emergency meeting to discuss the issue.
However, no meeting has been held after the letter was sent more than a week ago.
Hadi said PAS wants unity under the umbrella of a “government that fulfils the duty to lead” as required by Allah, not “leaders who make their power for wealth and the honoured throne, and they are respected for fear of their tyranny”. - Mkini
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