PAS-Umno talks a political gimmick - analysts

Several political pundits and analysts see the Umno-PAS unity talks as nothing more than a communal political gimmick for the Islamic party to explore an easy path to power and for Umno to regain lost popularity among Malays.

Aliran executive committee member Anil Netto slammed the unity talks as merely a 'short-sighted short-cut to power' being explored by PAS, while Umno is using it to regain credibility and relevance amongst the Malay-Muslim electorates.

If both parties were sincere and honest, he said, that talks to form the so-called unity government should have involved Barisan Nasional and Pakatan Rakyat political blocks, not just two coalition partners.

"It's clearly not about Malaysian unity. It's more about a political tie-up based on communalism," Anil (right) told Malaysiakini .

Echoing this sentiment, academician Dr Sivamurugan Pandian questioned the legitimacy of such unity talks based on a Malay-Muslim agenda.

Legitimacy of talks questioned

He pointed out that the last general election had changed the nation's political landscape when the people's desire for a paradigm shift from ethnic-based to multiracial politics was achieved.

He was said that the unity talks were shrouded by secrecy and it was being held between two communal and religious-based parties, while other parties were left in lurch.

By focusing on political unity of one particular ethnic group, he said Umno and PAS have overlooked the interests of other ethnic groups in their pursuit for consolidated ethnic-based power.

"These talks seem more towards pooling, uniting and mobilising each other's political strengths to serve their own interests, not to unite the people.

"It defeats the very purpose of change initiated by the majority of the electorate in the last polls," said Dr Sivamurugan of Universiti Sains Malaysia.

Pointing to the BN's five consecutive defeats in the by-elections held in Peninsula since last year's national polls, Anil said that Umno had long realised that its political credibility and relevance were rapidly deteriorating among Malaysians, especially the Malays.

In contrast, PAS, he said had emerged as a national party after the last general election, gaining prominence and support across communal and religious boundaries.

"Therefore, Umno badly needs PAS, not only to split the Islamic-based party and break up Pakatan, but also to regain its lost grounds among all electorates," said Anil.

Nation in suspense

Sivamurugan said Umno and PAS now have a national duty to explain to all Malaysians on "what is the unity talk all about."

He said both parties cannot go on discussing political unity while keeping the whole country in suspense.

"The voters have every right to know what's going on." said Sivamurgan (left) .

"Both parties should be transparent and accountable enough to bare it all," said the USM lecturer.

Concurring with the view, Anil hit out at PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang and deputy president Nasharuddin Mat Isa for betraying the trust of people.

"In the last general election, PAS received votes from many non-Malays who hated the Umno hegemony and dominance all these years.

"But today the PAS leaders have betrayed the people's mandate by ploughing out an express lane to attain power.

"It's would be a short-term gain, but in the long run people will lose faith in PAS," said blogger Anil.

PAS losing credibility

Sivamurugan too acknowledged that PAS would lose its credibility due to its flirtation with arch-rival Umno.

"In the end, Umno would dominate and weaken PAS in an unity government.

"It will be too late then for PAS to recover," he said, recalling PAS past experience of forming an allegiance with Umno in early 1970s.

Pakatan allies, DAP and PKR have expressed confusion and disapproval over the unity talks, and have demanded PAS to explain thoroughly on its real motive behind its flirtation with Umno.

The unity talk was the main reason for Kelantan PAS strongman Husam (left) to challenge Nasharuddin for the deputy president's post in this month's PAS annual congress. However, he was defeated by the incumbent.

The much-revered PAS spiritual leader Nik Aziz and ousted Perak menteri besar Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin have also openly opposed such an idea, which if it materialises, could weaken both PAS and Pakatan.

On Wednesday, Kelantan Menter Besar Nik Aziz rebuked Nasharuddin for his zeal to hold the unity talks and suggested that the Bachok parliamentarian to join Umno instead of damaging PAS and Pakatan.

Acid test

Both Sivamurugan and Anil said it would be interesting to see how PAS and Pakatan leaders are going to set aside their differences and campaign together in the forthcoming Manek Urai by-election in Kelantan.

They agreed that despite being a fledgling coalition, Pakatan had shown remarkable political unity and strength in running their state governments and winning by-elections.

The people, they said were beginning to believe that they have a vibrant alternative government-in-waiting.

However, they criticised Abdul Hadi and Nasharuddin of doing disservice to the people by attempting to break it up.

How these leaders going to re-strategise and reposition Pakatan and themselves following their public spat over unity talks, remains to be seen.

Manek Urai will be Pakatan's acid test.