Tony Pua
DAP Selangor Chairman and MP PJ Utara
8th June 2015
The PAS General Assembly (“Muktamar”) has decided to sever all ties (“putus hubungan”) and stop all political cooperation “kerjasama politik” with DAP. As a result, Pakatan Rakyat in Selangor has undoubtedly entered unchartered waters. The only thing certain under such circumstances is that nothing can or will be the same again.
It is inconceivable for anyone to think or believe that Pakatan Rakyat can continue to exist in its current state given the above unequivocal motion. The Pakatan Rakyat government comprises of three political parties which subscribed to a common policy platform. However, when the common policy platform is breached, compounded by the decision of one party to stop cooperation with another within the coalition, then the coalition naturally collapses.
How does the Government function, when the state executive councillors (Exco) of PAS refuses to cooperate with the Exco from DAP when carrying out their respective duties? Can one even imagine how surreal the state Exco meeting will be, with the PAS Exco ignoring the DAP Excos or pretending that they don’t exist?
The problems do not just exist within the Executive Council, but with all levels of the Selangor Government. Will PAS local councillors for example, pay no heed to all comments, suggestions and proposals by DAP local councillors when carrying out their responsibilities at the local government level?
What’s more, such refusal to cooperate will be egged on by PAS leaders such as Nasruddin Hassan Tantawi, the top vote-getter amongst the 18 newly elected central committee members. After all, he urged the Party faithfuls to fight DAP with his now-famous war cry, “We may be dressed in jubah (robes) and turbans, but you must remember that underneath this jubah, there are elbows and knees that can be used (against DAP).”
Hence it will never be “business as usual” again. The question which remains, and is still unanswered is what form of political realignment will take place to allow a new coalition government to remain in power in Selangor.
As my colleague, Johor state chairman and MP for Kluang, Liew Chin Tong has alluded to, there is now a vacuum in the anti-establishment, moderate and progressive Malay political space after PAS swerved hard to the far-right. He said,
In the weeks and months to come, the search for new paths by the progressives and all other Malay moderate opinion leaders to fill the vacuum would see major political realignments in Malaysian politics.
The ability for this gap to be filled, whether by the DAP and/or PKR, or by the rise of new factions or parties, will determine the future of the new coalition for Selangor.
The failure of this gap to be filled, which will allow a tenable coalition which subscribes firmly to the “Common Policy Platform” endorsed by the Rakyat in the last general election, may lead to a collapse of the Selangor state government and for elections to be called.
As of today, no final decision have been made by DAP Selangor. In the coming days, we will engage and discuss with DAP Central Executive Committee and abide by any decision which is made at the national level. Unlike leaders of several other political parties we know of, Malaysians can be assured that DAP leaders in Selangor will not be hypocrites and betray our principles to remain in power at all cost.
Hadi has been known to break agreements made with their Pakatan partners or make unilateral decisions that go against the Common Policy Framework of Pakatan. With such unreliable partner, it is better, in the long run for Pakatan to leave PAS out of the coalition even at the expense of initial political setback.
What is the point of capturing Putrajaya and for the new govt to collapse due to PAS raising the hudud issue again? This will not be fair to the electorates supporting Pakatan. .
Pakatan must realise that this hudud issue will surely lead to Pakatan breaking in the future as long as PAS remains in the coalition. It cannot be avoided as hudud is now the DNA of PAS.
Secondly, PAS is now toxic in the eyes of non-Muslims and is more a liability than an asset in the coalition.
At the moment, PAS does not want a total break from Pakatan as they are waiting for UMNO to fulfil their hudud aspiration. Once done, the Selangor govt will go to the UMNO/PAS coalition.
The Selangor govt should immediately dissolve the State Assembly now before it is too late as it is easier to get a new mandate as UMNO is in now crises, Najib reputation in tatters and of course the GST issue.
PAS is now buying time and waiting for UMNO. With the hudud issue a 100% time bomb for Pakatan, why wait for the bomb to explode?
Its possible for couple even family to live in the same house after divorce or separation. Its dysfunctional and toxic but its possible..It destroy too much and the arrangement almost always falls apart if they don’t kill each other first.
What it is its irresponsible. Its not just dishonorable, those who insist on it are irresponsible – not just weak leadership – and they are dysfunctional – deep seated emotionally into their soul messed up. So, yes, PKR is in the same pot as PAS as far as this is concern. But PKR is not deluded, just confused, weak. PAS is deluded and hallucinating.
With a deluded partner and confused partner, all DAP Selangor can really do is persevere and keep on doing what it has to do. When the going get tough, the tough get going. DAP will not lose much in Selangor on its own and taking the offense by recruiting more Malay leaders will ensure that. But making progress is another thing altogether. It need to prod PKR to step up against PAS if its to make real gain which is hard..
I would like to add that PAS does not trust UMNO. They want UMNO to deliver the hudud legislation first before cutting the rope from Pakatan.
I’m not surprised that UMNO may decide end the game now without delivering hudud. In the first place, they do not want hudud as thieves are scared of hudud. They may throw the hudud bill away or pretend not to get enough votes to pass the bill.
Anyway, the damaged has been done to Pakatan as a number of non-Muslims may not vote for Pakatan with PAS in the coalition especially when UMNO later declares that hudud is not the “right time” for the country.
UMNO has now eliminated PAS from the political equation as PAS is now useless to Pakatan. This episode shows that PAS is more suitable to be a religious body rather than a political party. Politically naive, cannot think or do not want to think.
Wouldn’t his separation be far more preferable to having traitors who undermine PR, especially the DAP, at every turn?
Isn’t it better to get rid of the millstone around your neck?
Then be sunk by it???
PR should kick PAS out of the alliance and at the same time try to get the moderates to cross over.
Left to their own, PAS will soon be history.
Both PKR and DAP must start wooing more PROFESSIONALS to join them.
NOW!!!!!
One more thing.
DAP must go all out to let Malaysians know what the problem is between it and PAS.
Rather than to let them portray a logical, people centric party as the devil because, in Bolehland, heroes can be made out to be villains and vice versa.
If you don’t do this, you will end up becoming the devil by default!!!!
Parliament and each State Assembly can be constituted differently. In fact each State should be striving for more autonomy from the Federal goverment. Coalitions before and after elections are flexible and elastic. So OK PAS does not want to cooperate with DAP at the federal level, but do they want to in Selangor? If they do and the state PAS leaders say so then it’s up to the Selangor MB to decide if he/she is willing to form the coalition govt with them. It’s also up to Selangor PKR and DAP if they can and are willing to cooperate with Selangor PAS.
In Pulau Pinang, DAP may or may not want to cooperate with Penang PAS. They have to decide at the state level and not at national level. State leaders have to decide, not national leaders. Let’s begin to reduce the power of national leaders.
Once and for all, it’s a big lesson for us to believe race or religion based political parties will work for the betterment of Malaysia. BN coaliation will not represent the future generation of Malaysia because of it’s race based policy. Similarly, PAS failed PR because of it’s religion based policy. Therefore, Malaysia has to move forward to a new political landscape that is free from race and religion manipulation to ensure the rights of every Malaysian will be taken care of. The formation of PasMa will not solve the problem if it is an religion based party. We need neutral parties that are free from race and religion to fight for the future of Malaysia. It’s never too late to work on the dream of equality, rights and pride of every Malaysian.
What there were once a silver lining has turned into dark clouds. But in Turkey today the markets are bombing after the Party of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan loses its majority in a historic vote to celebrate the beginning of his dictatorship.