KUALA LUMPUR (politicsnowmy.blogspot.com) - Is there such a thing as an obscure bombshell? But perhaps a sensational claim casually dropped by a Pas leader in Parliament and just as casually refuted by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission the very same day came close.
On Monday, Awang Hashim the MP for Pendang, Penang had claimed that RM94 million in cash was found in the home of a former minister from DAP.
The Pas politician even went so far as claim the information came direct from the horse's mouth - Azam Baki, the chief commissioner of the MACC.
“While the MACC respects the right of Members of Parliament to express their views freely, it is crucial that their statements are based on accurate facts to avoid confusion,” the commission cleared its chief in a short statement issued just hours later.
Obviously DAP reps in the august house rushed to shout down and heckle at Awang who, perhaps out of a sense of self-preservation, stopped short of naming the minister. As such, the commotion was short-lived but few pundits in Malaysia's rumor-driven and conspiracy-filled political landscape believe that's really the end of the story.
SOMETHING'S COOKING BUT WHAT?
Anwar (left) being embraced by Hadi (right)
Given the coercive nature of the realpolitik in Malaysia and the apparent penchant of its top leaders, from Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim to all his predecessors in the past, to make full use of the enforcement arms of the government to swing or achieve their political goals, few would be surprised that another new complot is in the making.
Set against the latest viral speculations that the 77-year-old Anwar was trying to cut a deal with Pas so that he could ditch the increasingly-demanding Umno, while placating the DAP with a new arrangement, it is no wonder that the creative juices of the myriad of political watchers in the country have started pumping overtime.
"Something is cooking, that's for sure. But for what purpose, that's the question. To send a message to DAP not to act so high and mighty, to send a warning to Umno that they are dispensable to Anwar and his greater goal of personal power? Or to test the water on how Malays would react to a PKR and Pas alliance to form and lead the next government?" a pundit told PoliticsNow Malaysia.
"Non-Malay reaction is already quite clear. They are disappointed with Anwar, think poorly of him for failing to keep election promises on social, economic and education reform. If he goes ahead to tie up with Pas, so long as Hadi Awang is in charge, they will dump him and PKR without a second thought."
SAMSURI OR SANUSI? BUT HADI HAS TO LET GO FIRST
Ironic as it may be, non-Malays especially the Chinese used to be quite sympathetic to the Pas cause of putting Islam above all else including humanity - although of what use is a religion if there are no humans left to follow it still remains unclear. Even so, those were the days when Pas was in the Pakatan Rakyat coalition along with PKR and DAP - the precursor of the current ruling Pakatan Harapan alliance that has with Pas out and replaced by splinter group Amanah and East Malaysia's Upko.
Those were also the days when Pas was led by the kindly Nik Aziz, who portrayed a much more moderate and acceptable brand of Islam as far as the non-Malays were concerned. Many were saddened by his demise but repulsed by his successor Hadi Awang's deliberately brutish and hardline handling of things, rights and issues belonging to the non-Muslim sphere.
"Pas under Hadi made non-Muslims here feel as though they have no place in the world and it's just a matter of time everything is Islamized, with even forced conversions and compulsory name changes among some of the more remote possibilities they feared," recalled the pundit.
"So while Hadi is alive or his faction still has a hold on the party, I would say it is impossible for Chinese to accept Pas again. If his successor is the Kedah chief minister Sanusi Nor, it would still be no. Maybe they might soften towards Terengganu chief minister Samsuri Moktar because he has a much more personable and cultured persona compared to the others in the party who think it is a great feat and superior gesture to use bullying tones or aggressive language when dealing with the non-Malays."
POWER HUNGRY ANWAR, POWER HUNGRY PAS, POWER HUNGRY DAP?
While it is clear why the 77-year-old Anwar, who has already been accused of being power-hungry, would want to tie his PKR party with Pas, it's not yet as clear why Pas would agree. Or what terms it would demand from Anwar in return for helping him cling to the PM's post.
That Pas leaders are just as power hungry and no different than other politicians is a given. But behind the great hypocrisy and small-mindedness is also a long-entrenched pride. Formed in 1951, the party had showed tremendous spunk and spine, refusing to budge from its raison d'etre no matter how misguided or out of sync with the times its behavior might have seemed.
"It's a combination of factors. Perhaps only Nik Aziz didn't mind being poor and being only a village party based in Kelantan and Terengganu. But after him, the Hadi crowd got a taste of power and big money and the rest is history as they say," an analyst told PoliticsNow Malaysia.
"Hadi himself is a savvy politician. He used to be very ambitious and wanted to compete with Anwar for the PM's post but now that's impossible because his health is really quite fragile. Those who get to be nearby to him say the deterioration in his heart condition cannot be reversed and he lives day to day by the grace of God."
"Most see his exaggerated hardline stance as a deliberate ploy to rally Malay votes and the gambit succeeded beyond imagination. From mosquito party, Pas is now the biggest and most influential Malay party, winning the most seats in the 2022 election, even more than the DAP, which had almost 95% of the Chinese votes."
SATURATION POINT FOR PAS, DAP
Indeed, Pas won a stunning 49 seats compared to the DAP's 40. Yet like DAP, what next for Pas? After the hard-fought success and four state governments under its belt has come a saturation point. If Pas cannot break through this crucial point, then the backslide will begin.
The Chinese form only 28% of the Malaysian electorate in Peninsular Malaysia or some 4.9 million voters. Yet because they chose to rally behind the DAP, their might can be felt due to their focus. As for Pas, it captured a 54% of the Malay vote in the peninsula together with ally Bersatu.
"What goes up must come down unless Pas decides to refuel but what fuel should it take? That's the soul searching in Pas - should they stay uncompromising and wait for more Malays to come to their fold? Or should they use their gains to strike a deal, be it with Anwar or Umno, to stay in the national game and have say over the national agenda? If they want that, then they must show a kinder and more tolerant face to the non-Malays or they'll never get past that 28% held by the non-Malays," explained the analyst.
"Pas must remember that while religion is fine, not all Malays want to be totally ruled by religion and religious beliefs alone. Many want to be part of the modern world, they want a decent livelihood. What investments can Pas attract if it keeps on escalating its terrible reputation and image? I don't see any way for either DAP or Pas to maintain their stunning wins in the next general election. If they want to keep growing, the only way is to tap into new alliances. Organic growth so to speak and clinging to old formulas for success is certain death in the near term."
Written by Wong Choon Mei, PoliticsNow Malaysia
https://politicsnowmy.blogspot.com/
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