COMMENT In Malaysian politics there is no "end to history". Politics in the country is not moving in the direction of liberalism or openness but in the direction of opportunism, greed and preoccupation with power.

Once sworn political enemies have embraced each other not because of the hudud bill, but to win the by-elections that are scheduled.

Politics cannot be more myopic than this.

Whether such an embrace portends well for the country on the whole remains in serious doubt. But this political opportunism of the worst kind might introduce a new dimension.

The close relationship between PAS and Umno has finally become public. For some time, since PAS left the opposition coalition of Pakatan Rakyat, there were rumours that PAS was inching towards a close relationship with Umno. However, this was denied by the PAS leadership for a while.

Moreover, since PAS cooperated with PKR in running the administration of Selangor, PAS enjoyed some credibility that it was still in the opposition coalition although it has burned its bridges with DAP.

The formation of Parti Amanah Negara and its inclusion in the new coalition of Pakatan Harapan made the situation worse and it was a question of time before PAS announced its formal ties with Umno.

The by-elections in Sungai Besar and Kuala Kangsar have provided an opportune movement for the formalisation of the relations between these major dominant Malay based political parties.

The manner in which the hudud bill was rushed to be tabled in Parliament yesterday afternoon by Abdul Hadi Awang, the president of PAS, has all the significance of the rapprochement of these two parties. Although the debate was postponed to the next session of Parliament, it was nonetheless clear that the bill was rushed for both Umno and PAS to fully capitalise on the Malay-Muslim votes in the two constituencies.

Give Amanah limelight

Now the ball is in the court of Harapan. There is no chance for Harapan or PKR to even dream about cooperating with PAS. PAS has clearly and unequivocally revealed its true opportunistic colour by rejecting its ties with PKR. The question of PKR wanting to allow PAS to contest in Kuala Kangsar in return for PAS not contesting in Sungai Besar has been rendered meaningless.

If PAS can brazenly reveal its close ties with Umno, then what is stopping PKR from expelling PAS members from having posts in the Selangor executive council? This is something for PKR to decide and obviously time is not in their favour. The sooner PKR acts, the better it is will be for the opposition coalition.

Political arithmetic suggests that the two constituencies will have to contend with three-cornered fights. But in reality, there will be two-corned fights. A vote for PAS is vote for Umno/BN and vice versa. Since these two constituencies are Malay majority seats, it is for Harapan to decide as to which Malay-majority party is going to contest, PKR or Amanah.

While this is something to be decided, Harapan should accord some priority to Amanah to contest in one or two seats to take on both PAS and Umno.

Even if Amanah cannot win in the one or two seats, the very fact of giving it priority and importance would certainly catapult the party to national status. Such a status might not be essential for these two by-elections, but will become extremely useful in the coming general elections maybe end of 2017 or in 2018.

Amanah is the only party, since it is composed invariably of former PAS members, which can take on PAS to reveal its crass opportunism and betrayal.

Earlier the very intention of PAS to introduce the hudud bill saw the abrupt termination of its relationship with DAP and the formation of Harapan. Now with the tabling of the hudud bill in Parliament, whatever relationship that PAS had with PKR has been rudely shaken.

The time has arrived for PKR to merely announce its severance of ties with PAS.

Greed, opportunism, poor leadership and others have presented no choice for PAS to embrace a political party like Umno that has become very unpopular.

The "marriage" between PAS and Umno is not based on long-term political strategy or vision for the future of the country, but on a short-term one to remain relevant in Malaysian politics.

From this perspective, Harapan has nothing to lose, but a world to gain to oust both these "paper tigers" from the realm of Malaysian politics.

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P RAMASAMY is Deputy Chief Minister II of Penang and the state assemblyperson for Perai.