By Zainal Epi, Free Malaysia Today
KUALA LUMPUR: When Najib Tun Razak invited PAS to join Umno for the sake of religion and race, many Umno members waited patiently for PAS to reply.
Uppermost in their minds is: what if PAS accepts the Umno president’s offer and, at the same time, spell out conditions that may not benefit Umno or the Malays in general?
The core of Umno’s struggle is still to champion the Malay cause and strengthen Islam, while at the same time ensure fair distribution of the economic pie to all races.
However, in the course of its political evolution – from a Malay-based party to one embracing the interests of all races – the Malays have not only lagged behind in many areas of life but, worse still, are split, with three main political parties with different philosophies tugging at their loyalty.
Thus, the responsibility rests in Najib to unite the Malays so that they could better themselves in all fields of endeavour.
Extending a friendly hand to PAS is one way to rebuild the bridge of Malay unity.
An Umno leader, who wanted to remain anonymous, said that Najib’s offer was made out of sincerity, given that the political divide among the Malays has become serious.
He said that PAS, an Islamic party that has been around for more than 50 years, has never made much of an impact in the political arena except when Umno was embroiled in a crisis such as in 1988 when it broke up and when PKR was formed 12 years ago.
“Besides, PAS has never had a good run in any general election. So when the Umno president extended a hand of friendship, the Islamic party may see this as an opportunity to put a price,” he said.
But the question is, how much can Umno give away if PAS wants to bargain?
PAS, despite being an Islamic party championing Islamic ideals, is still a political party interested in gaining political mileage and worldly benefits.
Political survival is important to the party as it needs to prove to all, especially its allies in the unregistered Pakatan Rakyat, that it is a political force to be reckoned with.
It is the only party in the Pakatan that represents the Malays and Islam, while PKR is a multi-racial entity and DAP a multi-racial but Chinese-based organisation.
Political manoeuvring
According to some Umno members, the main worry is that PAS may ask for several seats and states in the coming general election, which means that Umno has to give some of its seats away.
“If this happens, Umno’s strength will be eroded as PAS may demand to contest in states like Kelantan, Terengganu, Kedah and some seats in Perak,” an Umno leader said.
“If Umno gives in, the backbone of the Barisan Nasional (BN) will be weakened.
written by Merdeka, May 12, 2011 21:32:27
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written by Saint, May 12, 2011 20:30:37
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written by No nonsense, May 12, 2011 18:14:40
Please in the first place who divided the malays? Diffinately not PAS or PKR so who do you think? Now its support is weakening and they are so good as to ask PAS to merge. Come on you think PAS and PKR supporters are fools? You think you can ask people to leave whenever you like and ask them to come back when you need them.? PAS has enough of your dirty tactics so is PKR. Do whatever you want to do and PR will still be PR without you. Please dont bring race and religion in and split the rakyat more and more. We believe in PAS and will do so in the future.
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written by JJFoo, May 12, 2011 17:55:06
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written by IbnAbdHalim, May 12, 2011 12:13:44
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written by justice seeker, May 12, 2011 11:14:31
Uppermost in their minds is: what if PAS accepts the Umno president’s offer and, at the same time, spell out conditions that may not benefit Umno or the Malays in general?
THE ENTIRE CABINET MUST BE FROM PAS. TAKE IT OR LEAVE IT. IT IS NON NEGOTIABLE.
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Kelantanese PAS members must say," COME FLY OUR WAU !" to the Federal UMNO Leadership !!!!
APCO is witnessing the tsumamis are rolling higher and higher by the day against the UMNO led b**iSANs ! Malays and Chinese are steering clear of UMNO and MCA and other component parties especially in Sarawak and soon SABAH, too !!! Now the Indians must decide for themselves to flow with the Tsumamis OR continue to be regarded as "BEGGARS" !
UMNO is actually very, very split within itself as Jibby is every day and night feeling his legs tugged at his feet and will soon fall hard on his face ! Can you imagine the next leader's face ???? DPM ? MUKHRIZ ? NAZRI ? RAIS ? YAKKI YAKKI YAKKI !!!!! NO MORE !!!! R-A-H-M-A-N ---- last one is spelled with the letter "N" in front !!!! GOT IT !!!!!?????