COALITION politics has become more interesting in recent times in Malaysia. At the time of writing, the federal opposition bloc Perikatan Nasional (PN) is suspended.
PN is made up of PAS, Bersatu, Gerakan, Malaysian Indian People’s Party (MIPP) and Parti Cinta Malaysia (PCM) with Parti Wawasan Negara – a Bersatu splinter – having come on board on July 6.
Recount that PAS has since severed its political cooperation with Bersatu. This led Bersatu to enter the Negeri Sembilan (NS) state polls with political allies from the unregistered Ikatan Prihatin Rakyat (IPR).
The Registrar of Societies (ROS) eventually issued a suspension notice to PN under subsection 13(2) of the Societies Act on Sept 22 following a report filed by Bersatu on Aug 11.
Decisions made by PAS-led PN in a meeting without Bersatu’s presence led to ROS’ action.
The problem for the coalition came as Melaka is preparing for a state election. Barisan Nasional (BN) holds the state government there while PN wants closer cooperation with the UMNO-led BN.
The Negeri Sembilan state election has shown that a BN-PN pact could defeat Pakatan Harapan (PH) and wrestled control of the state.
Interestingly, PH also wants to cooperate with BN in the Melaka upcoming polls.
Unconfirmed rumours also indicated that PH has extended its olive branch to collaborate with Bersatu.
PAS should mend bridge with Bersatu
At a glance, PH supporters welcomed the possible suspension as it gives them an edge.
PAS secretary-general Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan meanwhile claimed that the ROS action was “done in bad faith” to assert “political pressure on PN.”
On the surface, this looks bad for PAS and PN. But is it really that bad? In the event PAS pulls a stunt, it would be bad news but not for the Islamist party and PN.
PAS should extend its political cooperation to Bersatu once again while keeping Wawasan on a tight leash.
Thrash out all the issues in the meeting and accept Bersatu back. There are two benefits for PAS and PN if they do the above.
First, ROS would lift PN’s suspension. This would enable PN to contest the state election as a coalition.
At present, PAS is comfortable with Wawasan. Wawasan fills the void left by Bersatu. A “Malaysian party” as opposed to a Muslim Bumiputera Bersatu as claimed by Wawasan’s secretary-general and PN Indera Mahkota lawmaker Datuk Seri Saifuddin Abdullah.
This is the choice that PAS had and it chose Wawasan. The taglines may differ but both Bersatu and Wawasan share the same political DNA.
Having both Bersatu and Wawasan within PN would also give PN an edge in raising support from the non-Malay, non-Muslim voter bloc.
PAS on its own have failed to do so. The present non-Malay component parties in PN, namely Gerakan hand MIPP have yet to be successful in translating support to votes as seen in the Johor and Negeri Sembilan state elections.
For Bersatu, it would give them a chance to prove that they still have the political clout they once had in coalition politics.
Second, Bersatu’s return to PN would cut off any possible cooperation that PH is attempting to have with Bersatu.
Bersatu’s absence in PH would leave the coalition’s component, especially PKR and Amanah, with little choice but to gain Malay support on their own accord instead of merely riding on Bersatu.
As it is, there are already disgruntlement from the non-Malay vote bloc, especially among Indian members who had thrown their en bloc support for PKR.
At one point in time, PKR had the largest number of Indian members, observed its former vice-president Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad who now co-leads opposition-slant Parti Bersama Malaysia alongside PKR’s ex-deputy president Datuk Seri Rafizi Ramli.
In that sense, PKR is facing a trust deficit of both the Malay and Indian voters. Hence, the PN suspension can be viewed as a golden opportunity for PAS to nip any chances for PH to gain Malay votes via Bersatu.
K. Pragalath was a former sub-editor of Harapan Daily’s English desk. Prior to that he was attached with Malaysiakini and Free Malaysia Today (FMT).
The views expressed are solely of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of MMKtT
- Focus Malaysia.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.