Ramasamy backs Muhyiddin, hails Bersatu’s strategic role in enabling PN engage non-Muslims

 

THAT Bersatu being part of the opposition Perikatan Nasional (PN) coalition does not mean that the party should be submissive to the more dominant PAS.

PAS might have more electoral seats than Bersatu but it remains largely a regional party without a strong national posture.

Bersatu needs PAS as much as PAS needs Bersatu. Only with Bersatu in the PN coalition is there a real possibility of PN capturing national  political power.

With the majority of Malays on the side of PN, what is still needed is the support of the Chinese and Indians.

Without non-Malay support, it would be near impossible for PN to capture national power. In this regard, the role of Bersatu is more than important.

Despite the internal rift in Bersatu leading to the ouster of its former deputy president Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin, the party remains largely intact under the leadership of Muhyiddin Yassin.

Bersatu president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin

PAS needs Bersatu to engage non-Muslims

It was on the basis of Bersatu’s potential national role within PN that the party recently submitted a list of nominees for six state chairmanships.

These states are Penang, Selangor, Perak, Negeri Sembilan, Johor and Sabah. The submission of this list to PN chairman Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar is perceived by analysts as a move by Muhyiddin to position Bersatu for a larger future role.

PAS might be content with the split in Bersatu but the Islamist party knows that it depends on Bersatu for both Malay as well as non-Malay votes.

While the Chinese and Indians might not be comfortable with PAS, they are unlikely to have the same reservations about Muhyiddin.

In essence, Muhyiddin is a power broker that PAS cannot do without. The recent formation of the loose coalition Ikatan Prihatin Rakyat (IPR) appears to augur well for Muhyiddin’s leadership.

By bringing together smaller Malay and non-Malay political parties such as the United Rights of Malaysian Party (Urimai) and Malaysian Advancement Party (MAP), he has demonstrated that non-Malays have a place in the opposition coalition.

Unfortunately, PAS despite its Malay electoral strength has failed to earn the trust of non-Malays.

It is not too late. By giving proper recognition to Bersatu within the PN coalition, PAS may be able to fill this electoral gap.

Over the years, Muhyiddin – both in government and in opposition – has demonstrated that he is no pushover. Without Bersatu’s role, PN can forget about attaining national power.

From this perspective, it is hoped that PN as a whole will accept Bersatu’s nominations for the six state chairmanships mentioned.

It is not that Bersatu is being greedy but rather that a strategic recognition of what needs to be done for the future must be acknowledged. 

Former DAP stalwart and Penang deputy chief minister II Prof Ramasamy Palanisamy is chairman of the United Rights of Malaysian Party (Urimai) interim council.

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

- Focus Malaysia.