Ex-NST boss: BN will survive PAS onslaught in Kedah
Former New Straits Times editor-in-chief Abdullah Ahmad today gave Barisan Nasional (BN) high chances of staving off PAS in the frontline state of Kedah, which the Muslim-based party is hoping to win to add to the two states already under its control.
"The (ruling) coalition should win comfortably in all states except Kelantan and Terengganu.
"PAS will keep Kelantan and in spite of what many (have been saying) that it's tough for the Islamists in Terengganu, I still think they will survive Umno's vigorous onslaught," he said in a speech to a group of defence analysts in Kuala Lumpur..
Abdullah (
photo
) said BN is likely to retain Kedah for several reasons, namely the edge given to the coalition due to the recent Election Commission delineation exercise, demographic changes and Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's personal charisma.
"(Badawi) hails from the north. His low-key and moderate Islam strikes a resonant chord with a large section of the Malay (community). This should be advantageous to the (BN)," he added.
Malay 'schism'
Nevertheless, the ex-Umno politician said the true test of the premier would be the margin of BN's victory in Kedah and the number of votes it secured.
The outcome, he said, would be the strongest indicator of the public's acceptance of the premier's new policies, including his anti-corruption pledges.
"In the event that BN retains Kedah, all will be well and good. It will temporarily halt the Islamic advance. If, on the other hand, PAS captures the state, PAS will be unstoppable within 10 to 15 years' time," he added.
Either way, Abdullah said the outcome of Sunday's polls, particularly for Kedah and Perlis, could well exacerbate the "schism" in the Malay community.
"Abdullah must not lose Kedah whatever the cost and likewise, PAS must pay any price to dislodge BN if it wants to advance further beyond the east coast," he said.
At the moment, Abdullah said BN will be helped to victory by non-Muslim votes, as was the case in 1999.
"Notwithstanding PAS' strenuous efforts to woo the Chinese and Indians, (the non-Muslims) remain suspicious and are scared of PAS. They will support the ruling coalition again on Sunday," he added.
Umno's task
In the longer term, Abdullah said the prime minister's staying power would be determined by his political will to act against members of his administration who are tainted or under suspicion for corrupt practices.
The former editor said the premier has not taken any action to empower the Anti-Corruption Agency to do its job without fear or favour and although an ex-cabinet minister Kasitah Gaddam had been hauled up for corruption, he is by no means a "heavyweight".
Abdullah said Badawi will also be judged by his ability to maintain the "delicate balance" between secularism and the need to appease the Malays' increasing religious consciousness.
"Umno has an unenviable task. It has to battle (PAS), a party which claims to represent genuine Islam with an entrenched holier-than-thou mindset and an absurd (belief) that they, like the Pope, are infallible," he added.
Abdullah, who was once Malaysia's special envoy to the United Nations in New York, was sacked from the NST in November last year after penning an article which was said to have offended the Saudi Arabian government.
However, it is widely believed that he was given the marching orders for overtly supporting Najib Abdul Razak during the period when the new prime minister had yet to decide on his choice of a deputy.
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