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Cracks in the opposition
©Bernama
(Used by permission)
KUALA LUMPUR, July 27 (Bernama) -- Cracks are beginning to
emerge in the three-party opposition coalition Pakatan Rakyat, with DAP openly
declaring it now wants the alliance to review PAS' membership in the grouping.
DAP national chairman Karpal Singh said PAS had thrown grave doubts over its
credibility, adding that Pakatan Rakyat should seriously consider, in view of
events of late, whether PAS should be allowed continued membership in the
alliance.
"The assurance by PAS president (Datuk Seri) Abdul Hadi Awang to Pakatan Rakyat
partners (Parti Keadilan Rakyat and DAP), that PAS will not abandon the alliance
to join the BN, is not bona fide and is not supported by past events.
"After the March 8 general elections, PAS had talks with Umno to form a
coalition government in Selangor.
"This was an act of bad faith as both DAP and PKR were not informed of such a
move by PAS," he said in a statement, Sunday.
The Bukit Gelugor member of parliament was reacting to recent reports wich
confirmed that PAS and Umno, the backbone of the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN),
were in talks to sustain Malay unity in the country.
Karpal also slammed the move by PAS to hold another round of talks with Umno "in
the name of Malay unity", calling this a "racial move" by PAS, which he claimed
was incongruous with the policies of the DAP and Pakatan Rakyat.
Pakatan Rakyat, made up of DAP, PKR and PAS, rule five states, namely Kelantan,
Kedah, Pulau Pinang, Perak and Selangor.
Any break-up in the coalition will result in change in the state governments of
these states, except for Kelantan where PAS secures majority of the state seats.
Yesterday, PAS spiritual leader Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat suggested that UMNO
and PAS be dissolved and a new party formed to unite all Malays.
"Such a revelation is startling and has serious ramifications, implications and
consequences. Nik Aziz's statement reduces to naught Hadi Awang's statement in
Ipoh, also yesterday, that PAS would not merge with Umno or join Barisan
Nasional.
"Obviously, statements made by PAS leaders of late, give the perception that
they are out to scuttle the Pakatan Rakyat," said Karpal.
The DAP chairman's statement also had an error, stating PAS' Nasharudin Mat Isa
as PAS secretary-general when in actual fact, the PAS diehard was the party's
deputy president.
"Last week, PAS secretary-general (to read as deputy president) Nasharudin Mat
Isa stated that the Malays were beginning to believe the sodomy allegations
against Anwar Ibrahim.
"Why did Nasharudin make such a statement? In making the statement, he has
committed PAS as a whole, he being its secretary-general (deputy president).
"Nasharudin's statement is not only contempous and ill-advised but an open
attack on Anwar Ibrahim who is presently embroiled in efforts to tarnish his
credibility by allegations of sodomy.
"PAS should not and cannot be allowed to run with the hares and hunt with
hounds, lest it be devoured by the hounds," said Karpal.
He said the March 8 general election had given the opposition coalition the
mandate to rule five states with 82 members of parliament, and that it was
"obvious" that the people wanted a two-party system.
"Above all, the rakyat (people) voted along non-racial lines. Instead of working
towards a non-racial policy to unite all Malaysians, PAS has chosen to make
efforts to unite all Malays.
"The Pakatan Rakyat was formed to unite all Malaysians. That is the expectation
of the rakyat," he added.
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Circular No 297/2008
Almost every Malaysian would have thought that after the unprecedented landmark electoral verdict of March 8 this year, the Opposition parties would focus on ruling the five States and make them a model of what they can do.
anmd PKR (7).
, MCA (2), Pas (
, PKR (15) and DAP (13). An entire switch by Pas will spell a deadlock at 28 seats each. We need not f=have a fertile imagination to see where Selangor will go, given what has happened in Sabah in the last few years and what happened in 1969 when the ruling Alliance and the Opposition parites tied at 14 seats each in the then 28-seat Assembly.
Instead, we are now witnessing certain Pas leaders "subverting" - for reasons best known to themselves - the very verdict that they are supposed to uphold. (Emphasis mine)
Is this what Malaysian democracy is all about? Is this the best that these Opposition Pas leaders can do for the people who have voted for them?
For the record, should Pas scuttle the Opposition Pakatan coalition, Penang will be left as the only State in Opposition hands. Kedah, Perak and probably Selangor will return to the National Front.
For the record, right now, Kedah's 36 State seats are held by the National Front's Umno (12), MCA (1) Gerakan (1), and Pakatan's PAS (16), PKR (5 - including the Independent) and DAP (1).
Perak's 59 State seats are held by the National Front's Umno (27), MCA (1), PAS (6), DAP (1
In both Kedah and Perak, therefore, an entire switch by Pas means the respective majorities will tilt towards the National Front. Therefore, Pas is the king-maker in both these States.
Meanwhile, Selangor's 56 State seats areby Umno (1
Perhaps, what the Opposition parties sorely need are coalition makers, not coalition breakers.
Let the people judge. Meanwhile, I end with this Latin quotation: Veritas temporis filia (Truth is the daughter of time).
Stephen Tan Ban Cheng