PAS, PKR ties have everything to do with Pakatan

Pakatan Harapan component's negotiations with other parties outside the coalition must have the presidential council's consent, says UUM lecturer.

Kamarul says that under the PH charter, negotiations with other outside parties must have the presidential council’s consent.

PETALING JAYA: PKR deputy-president Mohamed Azmin Ali’s says his party’s efforts to court PAS have nothing to do with its allies in Pakatan Harapan (PH).

However, as simple as that may sound, the reality is that such a stand would be nothing short of disastrous, say some political observers.

PH comprises four parties that have agreed to contest the upcoming general election as one entity, fighting under one banner, and placing one candidate representing the coalition in every state and parliamentary seat.

So, even if PKR comes to an agreement with PAS to avoid three-cornered contests in the next general election (GE14), such an arrangement could not make it through the implementation stage without PH’s approval.

Universiti Utara Malaysia’s political analyst Kamarul Zaman Yusoff said that under the PH charter, negotiations with other parties outside the coalition must have the presidential council’s consent.

“If he (Azmin) can’t understand or abide by this, then I think it is better for him to quit his PH deputy president and election director posts,” he told FMT.

Atory believes it is impossible, especially with PAS’ insistence to never work with Amanah and DAP again.

Another political analyst, Ahmad Atory Hussain, concurred. According to him, any decision affecting the coalition must ultimately be decided by the presidential council, not the individual party.

“There is no restriction in any party working towards having ties with others, including PAS. But at the end of the day, any form of negotiations must be referred to the council.”

Is PKR-PAS partnership even possible?

PKR has been trying to get PAS on its side for more than a year. However, based on what has transpired so far this year, the olive branch the party extended to PAS has been met with rejection.

This came in the form of PAS making a formal and public decision in May to break all ties with PKR, saying the move was necessary to defend the party’s Islamic agenda.

PAS’ syura council had also accused PKR of violating the terms of its conditional cooperation with the party and failing to support its Islamic agenda.

So, is it still possible to mend the broken ties just for the sake of avoiding three-cornered battles during GE14?

Kamarul says it is “highly unlikely”, although anything is possible in politics.

“With the right approach, PAS may be swayed to PKR’s way although the likelihood is indeed very slim.”

Atory, meanwhile, believed it was impossible, especially with PAS’ insistence to never work with Amanah and DAP again.

Effect on opposition unity

A united front is always preferred when entering an election battlefield. This is because a united coalition can provide voters with confidence that their future would be in good hands.

But PKR, in its effort to court PAS, has successfully ruffled the feathers of its political partners, resulting in simmering tensions with one another.

This may be a bad move considering that elections can be called any day now.

Kamarul said if this continues, infighting among the PH partners may not be the only problem PKR will cause.

“The attempt to reach a political understanding with PAS is also causing a discord within PKR.

“I think the better way is for PKR to hold a quick EGM (emergency general meeting) to resolve it.

“Let the grassroots decide whether they want PKR to continue negotiating with PAS, or to stop it,” he said. - FMT