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Categories
| A political move gone wrong |
| Commentary | |||
| Written by Chan Kok Leong | |||
| Sunday, 21 June 2009 23:28 | |||
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Pundits and analysts alike had turned the triennial contest into a battle between the pro-Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim faction and the pro-Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang camp. Leading up to the annual assembly, scant attention was given to topics other than the race to see whether spiritual leader Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat's protege Datuk Husam Musa would triumph over incumbent Nasharudin Mat Isa. And whether rank outsider Mohamed Sabu could turn the tables on the two in the three-horse race for the deputy presidency. Yet, less than a month later, an "old" issue has reared its ugly head again. Dominating the news pages of every newspaper is Umno's invitation to PAS to negotiate the formation of a "unity" government. From party president Datuk Seri Najib Razak to Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin, Umno is now extending "warm" invitations to the Islamic champions to discuss matters for the sake of the ummah (Muslim community). The question of a "unity government" negotiation initiated by Hadi following the last general election should already have been put to rest in the 2008 muktamar in Ipoh. This year's annual assembly too had rejected any suggestions of a "unity government". The initial "talks", handled by Hadi, Nasharudin, Datuk Mustafa Ali and Khalid Samad before the Pakatan Rakyat (PR) coalition was formalised in April 2008, were apt. But in February 2009, Hadi reiterated the offer to then prime minister and Barisan Nasional president Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, reigniting the issue. After a sharp rebuke from Nik Aziz on who the "real" captain of the ship was and Najib's takeover from Abdullah, Hadi had smartly retracted his offer. And the issue could have ended there. However, it was resurrected for a third time in Hadi's presidential speech when he said that PAS would keep its "doors open to anyone". The comment was a calculated political move. Not so much as in any actual interest in the talks (for if Hadi was serious about it, he would have already acted) but more of a veiled message to PAS' partners — Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) and DAP — to let them know that PAS has other options and should not be taken too lightly. Because despite the triumph of PR at last year's general election, the million-strong Islamic party had come out with the smallest piece of the pie, Kedah. The richest state, Selangor, is currently run by PKR while the second most economically developed state, Penang, went to DAP. And while Perak was once led by PAS' Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin, the party had to face allegations of being a DAP stooge during the Bukit Gantang by-election. These taunts continue to haunt PAS members. At the Kuala Terengganu by-election, Umno turned the tables on PAS and castigated the party in the Malay heartland for partnering "infidels". Incidentally, this is an old but effective allegation PAS has used against Umno for its role in Barisan Nasional (BN). However, when asked to explain Hadi's statement, Nasharudin defended the "unity talks" and attempted to paint a more positive picture of it. Adding salt to injury, the newly-elected deputy president described Nik Aziz's rejection of any unity talks as the "personal opinion of one man" and not the party's stand on the matter. This sparked an unprecedented counter-attack from Nik Aziz, who told Nasharudin to quit the party and his Bachok parliamentary seat if he wants to continue "talks" with Umno. Vice-presidents Salahuddin Ayub and Datuk Mahfuz Omar threw their support behind the spiritual leader and "advised" Nasharudin to go to Kota Bharu to seek a clarification, a veiled suggestion to ask for forgiveness. Later in the day, 10 PAS MPs issued a statement to back Nik Aziz. Despite this furore, the controversy is still largely expected to end today when PAS meets. Known for keeping its party conflicts internal, PAS is expected to come out with a "no talks, no more conflict" statement, analysts said. But that is all clouded once again. A check with several leaders in Selangor and Terengganu revealed that Umno is "genuinely" interested in a partnership with PAS. "The outlook for GE13 doesn't look good," said one Terengganu leader. "The non-Malay votes, as evidenced in the Bukit Gantang by-election, haven't improved despite a new prime minister." If this continues, he added, BN could really lose the next general election. "In the face of this, partnering PAS may not be a bad idea after all." The sentiment was shared by his Selangor counterpart. "We partnered PAS in 1974. By partnering them again, at least we can consolidate the Malay votes," he said. While some, like DAP's Lim Kit Siang, feel that this is merely a ploy by Umno to split the opposition, Hadi and Nasharudin may yet see this as a chance to unite the ummah. And in the face of any offer to unite the ummah and even earn some representation in the cabinet, PAS will have to decide today whether it should give the idea another chance. And for three-term deputy president Nasharudin, he will come face-to-face with Nik Aziz, who actually wields no executive powers despite his Mursyidul Am (spiritual leader) position. But just like the Johor Sultan's rejection of a third bridge, Nik Aziz's rebuff goes a long way. And Nasharudin will find out if Nik Aziz's "personal opinion" is just that or more tonight.
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