SYED SADDIQ & CHIN TONG – A GAP MORE THAN JUST AGE: ONE RUSHES TO PUSH ‘UMNO-PAS MERGER’ FEAR BUTTON – WHILE THE OTHER CONFRONTS THE POSSIBILITY, OFFERS SOLUTIONS

THE rise of right wing leaders in Umno will take the party closer to PAS, said Bersatu Youth chief Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman.

“I predict in GE15 (15th general election) PAS and Umno will merge, and this time (they) will merge very seriously.

“If YB Khairy (Jamaluddin had) won, I’m pretty sure the merge won’t happen. But Ahmad Zahid Hamidi won,” Syed Saddiq said in a public forum on Malaysia’s changed political landscape at Sunway University earlier today.

Ismail Sabri Yaakob and Mahdzir Khalid, two of the three new Umno vice presidents, are clearly right wing in their ideology, he said.

“Except for Khaled Nordin, the vice-presidents are clear cut right wing, very close to PAS,” said Syed Saddiq.

Umno’s new Wanita chief Noraini Ahmad and Youth chief Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki also espoused ideas similar to PAS’, he said.

Assuming that the Malay vote was split three ways in GE15 for Pakatan Harapan, Umno and PAS, Syed Saddiq said, an Umno-PAS mergence would mean capturing two-thirds of the Malay vote.

“From there they can negotiate with Sabah and Sarawak parties to form the federal government (with them),” he said.

Forum moderator and DAP strategist Liew Chin Tong, however, argued that Malaysians must go beyond labels, and focus on their commonalities rather than differences.

“Why do right wing politics thrive? It’s because of insecurities and lack of trust,” said Liew.

“It’s easier to segregate people in a rural setting but it’s more difficult in urban areas,” said Liew, adding that some 75% Malaysians live in urban areas now.

He is confident that PH will remain popular if it can provide better jobs, salaries and opportunities for the youth and create a common sense of identity among Malaysians regardless of class and ethnicity.

“In terms of economic policy I think we should move a bit left, to ensure there is economic growth and equitable distribution (of wealth).

“In terms of race, we should be centrist. Bring back Bangsa Malaysia. When most Malaysians feel they have a stake in this country, that will create a common sense of identity and destiny (that unite us),” said Liew.

– https://www.themalaysianinsight.com