Academic Discussions or Umno Stooges
Unity Government: Academic Discussions?
The concept of unity government which had plagued Pas and Pakatan Rakyat for some time was rendered to mere “academic discussions” by President Pas Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi who made a turn-about on his controversial pro-unity government stand.
In contrast to the seriousness of the open criticism of Pas Spiritual Leader Nik Aziz that those who supported Abdul Hadi‘s proposal to form a unity government with Umno were “boneka Umno” (Umno puppets), the way Hadi wash his hands of the issue was so absurd and irresponsible.
Rais Yatim, member of Umno Supreme Council came to Hadi’s help to criticize Nik Aziz as being exposing the true colours of most of the Malay leaders from the opposition who were not sincere in fighting for Islam as religion of harmony and unity, they simply pay lip-service with empty rhetoric.
Hadi Awang and his deputy Nasharudin Mat Isa were categorized as far-sighted leaders while others were just practicing populist politics. Their supports of the idea of unity government were praised as valuable measure taken by the respected statesmen. The “boneka” images of those who had supported the idea were moulded by the champion propagandist of Umno himself.
Amidst the political and economic crises of our country, it was unthinkable that Pas’s President and his followers still were at leisure to take part in “academic discussions” which in fact might split Pas into two factions, one pro-unity government and the other against it.
