PAS’s opposition leadership dilemma

 A sign of regional limits or strategic hesitation?

From P Ramasamy

Whether PAS is being overly cautious in naming its parliamentary opposition leader or cannot identify the right candidate for the role seems to be the puzzle.

The longer PAS takes to name its candidate, the more precious time will be lost strengthening the opposition.

The country will witness state and federal elections, simultaneously or otherwise, either at the end of this year or next year.

Perikatan Nasional has a good chance of replacing the Pakatan Harapan-led coalition – provided, of course, that the opposition forces can sink their differences and come together.

The split in Bersatu’s ranks has weakened the opposition to some extent.

Former opposition leader, Hamzah Zainudin, who was sacked from Bersatu, seems to be in the political wilderness. He has yet to form a political party to bring his supporters together.

PAS might be the biggest opposition party in terms of electoral strength, but unfortunately, its appeal seems confined to the Malay-dominated states of Kedah, Perlis, Kelantan, and Terengganu.

The party is still unable to make inroads in the country’s non-Malay communities.

It is the political brand of PAS as a firebrand Islamic party that prevents the non-Malays from identifying with it.

PAS knows its Achilles’ heel, but it has yet to demonstrate its willingness to woo the support of the non-Malays, especially the Chinese and Indians, where dissatisfaction towards the government is growing.

The recent attacks against “illegal” Hindu temples, the opposition to pig farming, and lately, the inability of the government to enlarge the non-Malay intake for the matriculation system have angered the respective communities.

The non-Malays might not have a serious political alternative. The relevance of DAP cannot be taken for granted as there is fear that the non-Malays might not turn up to vote during elections.

PAS cannot be used to politically legitimise the existence of DAP.

If PAS dilly-dallies on the appointment of its opposition leader, can we take for granted that it is not serious about taking national power?

At the end of the day, PAS’s prevarication on appointing the opposition leader is a tell-tale sign of its role as a regional and not national party. - FMT

P Ramasamy is the chairman of Urimai and a former Penang deputy chief minister.

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