Ramasamy to PAS: You still need non-Malay support for they ain’t tiny minority but are kingmakers

 

IN Perikatan Nasional (PN), PAS might be stronger with more parliamentary and state seats in comparison with Bersatu. Given this, it only logical that PAS helms the chairmanship of PN.

I think the process is underway given the exit of Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin as the former chairman of the opposition coalition and amid a few Bersatu leaders having vacated their positions in PN.

What was once thought as a formidable opposition with the potential to unseat the ruling Pakatan Harapan-Barisan Nasional (PH-BN) coalition in the next general election, the prospect of such an opportunity now seems a distant dream.

Infighting within Bersatu, between Bersatu and PAS in PN, the Perlis political crisis and others have brought to fore the apparent split in PN.

PN’s biggest challenge is not getting the support of the Malay-Muslims but the support of the non-Malays.

Chinese, Indians still uncomfortable

Some sections of the non-Malay community might have warned towards Muhyiddin, especially with the formation of Ikatan Prihatin Rakyat (IPR) recently.

However, the resignation of Muhyiddin who is also the IPR chairman from PN has put on hold the future of the loose coalition.

PAS might have strong political credentials with the Malay-Muslim community in the country. In fact, it is the strongest political party in the Malay-Muslim community.

Nevertheless, taking national power requires it to develop warm relationship with the Chinese and Indians in the country.

Rightly or wrongly, PAS is still perceived as a political party with no interest in safeguarding the political, social, religious and cultural interests of the Chinese and Indians.

Whether politics of PAS is seen as detrimental to the rights of the Chinese and Indians is true of not is something else. Perceptions matter in the real world of politics.

In the past, PAS might have made some attempts to ingratiate itself to the Chinese and Indians but the over emphasis on religion has served to nullify some good deeds.

The presence of non-Malay or non-Muslim section within PAS in the form of Dewan Himpunan Penyokong PAS (DHPP) given its subservience to the PAS leadership does not instil confidence among the Chinese and Indians.

Mono-ethnic stance a stumbling block

Many segments within PAS might be thinking that Malay-Muslim support is all that is necessary to capture political power.

Non-Malays are not a tiny minority in the country but constitute nearly 40% of the population.

Even if the support of the Chinese and Indians are not necessary, surely a political party with national aspirations such as PAS cannot ignore the political reality of the non-Malays and the protection of their rights by the Federal Constitution of the country.

As long as PAS takes a mono-ethnic or mono-religious view towards Malaysian politics, the party can hardly make a headway in the non-Malay communities.

The question is: yes, it only logical that PAS takes over the chairmanship of PN but how it is going to endear itself to the Chinese and Indians in the country.

Remember that the political relevance of DAP is always seen in oppositional relationship to PAS.

In fact, DAP owes its existence to the kind of politics practised by PAS. What a shame! 

Former DAP stalwart and Penang deputy chief minister II Prof Ramasamy Palanisamy is chairman of the United Rights of Malaysian Party (Urimai) interim council.

The views expressed are solely of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of  MMKtT.

- Focus Malaysia.