Is PAS-Umno merger becoming a reality?

Talks of a PAS-Umno merger have re-surfaced with the continued leadership of Abdul Hadi Awang as PAS president.

ANALYSIS

By Mohd Hisham Abdul Rafar

KUALA LUMPUR: With Abdul Hadi Awang’s continued leadership as PAS president for the term 2011-2013, various interpretations have surfaced, among them, the unity issue with Umno.

The fact the he was returned unopposed for another three years shows that his leadership has the full support of the party grassroots who know of his inclination towards a PAS-Umno merger.

Can this be regarded as a message that the PAS-Umno merger is approaching reality for the sake of the Malays and Muslims and the country’s interests?

Perhaps, Abdul Hadi’s message on the unity issue during the party’s 55th general assembly (muktamar) at Malawati Stadium, Shah Alam, in June 2009, is still fresh in the minds of his supporters that they decided to ensure that he continues to helm the party.

Regardless of the form of unity intended by Abdul Hadi, many PAS and Umno leaders are seeing the positive side of the move.

In fact, Umno information chief Ahmad Maslan is all geared towards bringing PAS into Barisan Nasional (BN) for the sake of Malay unity.

A PAS member who wanted to be known only as Abdul Hamid said the merger between PAS and Umno could be realised if both parties were serious because PAS used to be with Umno in BN before.

Religious struggle

Political analyst, Dr Sivamurugan Pandian, said the decision by PAS members in returning Abdul Hadi unopposed could be regarded unanimous and reflected their desire to maintain an ulama as their leader.

He said the nomination of Kelantan executive council member Husam Musa for the president’s post by the party’s Bukit Bintang division was more of a protest with some members wanting someone from the “Erdogan group” to take over the party leadership.

(In 2008, the professionals were nicknamed by political observers as “erdagon” since they are believed to be influenced by the reformed-minded and outspoken Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.)

“I believe the grassroots want Abdul Hadi so that the party’s objectives will not be eroded and to avoid a split in the party,” said the Universiti Sains Malaysia political science lecturer.

Another political analyst, Abdul Ghapa Harun, a senior lecturer at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, said the grassroots opted for Abdul Hadi because PAS had no other leaders as credible and wise as Abdul Hadi.

“Looking at his leadership, there is no one yet who can take over the presidency and capable of uniting the groups in PAS,” he added.

He said there would not be much change in PAS’ direction as the party would continue to focus on religious struggle.

- Bernama