>An interesting article from ST’s website (dated 23 Mar 2010) caught my eye.
PAS is opposition star
KUALA LUMPUR – TWO years after the Anwar Ibrahim-led Pakatan Rakyat coalition made waves at the general election, it is Parti Islam SeMalaysia (PAS) that is keeping the opposition ship steady these days.
Datuk Seri Anwar’s own Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) is wobbling and the Chinese-dominated Democratic Action Party (DAP) has come under repeated attacks for allegedly weakening Malay rights.
In contrast, PAS provided credibility to Pakatan in the Allah debate and other Islamic matters at a time when the opposition coalition’s integrity was at a low.
None of its politicians has been suspected of trying to jump ship, while several PKR leaders have abandoned the party. And some Malay voters have become suspicious of the DAP due to its strident tones in promoting Chinese and Indian rights.
More significantly, PAS has made a discernible shift in taking a more progressive position on several issues, a move welcomed by non-Muslim supporters.
While a heated debate over the use of the word ‘Allah’ by non-Muslims has divided the Malay community, PAS has managed to present a united front even though it was divided by a split between progressive and conservative factions on the issue.
I have about written off Singapore’s Opposition to ever be able to displace the PAP because of one reason – they keep fighting among themselves. That has been the trademark since the 1990s, when Dr Chee Soon Juan and Mr Chiam See Tong had a public spat. Here’s a post I made about what I think of oppo’s chances of getting their act together – Why the Opposition can’t succeed
In the above link, it can be noted that the Opposition, instead of having a united front, always fight among themselves. As such, they can never tackle the PAP.
However, note that up North, PAS has made significant strides. So why is that so?
PAS, the Holding Factor of the Opposition -
I think it is not an overstatement to say that if not for PAS, Anwar’s lose coalition would probably have crumbled by now. It must be noted that his Party Keadilan has had the most number of defectors so far. As for DAP, they appear to be nothing more than yakitty-yakkers. So the only holding factor for the opposition in Malaysia happens to be PAS.
Note for all the claims (by Singaporeans) that PAS would Islamize Malaysia, PAS has shown to be tolerant towards non-Muslims, such that even non-Muslim Malaysians have more faith in PAS than with the DAP or MCA! The latest “Allah” issue, where PAS says that it is OK for Christians to use the word “Allah”, is seen by many non-Muslims that PAS is open to ideas. Compare that to UMNO, where it is holding steadfast that no non-Muslim can use that term.
The trust PAS commands is not recent. It goes all the way back when the PKR captured the state govts of Kedah, Perak, Selangor, Penang, in addition to the long opposition held Kelantan. If you recall, the MB of Perak under PKR was Nizam, a PAS candidate, before three PKR candidates (from Anwar’s Party, where else?) defected.
But wasn’t PAS’s representation among the coalition the smallest in Perak to begin with? Why was not the MB’s post given to Keadilan or DAP? Doesn’t the appointment of Nizam hence show that PAS already commanded the respect of the coalition then?
What’s more glaring is that even before Nizam’s appointment as MB then, PAS had already garnered strong approval from the ground voters – including the Chinese. Here is a snapshot I took from Malaysiakini, when it was reporting live from Malaysia. The constituency was Bukit Gantang (in Perak).
Note the strong support the Chinese gave to PAS – “The Islamic Party has won Kuala Sepatang, the fishing village which is 92 percent Chinese. PAS has bagged 85 percent of the votes there. This is the area where BN stirred a controversy over a team of go-go girls performing at its campaign dinner.”
If you can recall, BN tried to win Kuala Sepatang voters by throwing a Chinese function and brought in go-go dancing girls. In a way, it was snipe at PAS’s supposed strong stance against half-naked girls dancing and partying. As it turned out, the majority of the 92% Chinese were not impressed and instead, gave PAS the thumbs up and BN the middle finger.
Singapore’s Stereotyping of PAS busted, Sg Opposition should learn from PAS -
I have heard many Singaporeans say that if PAS were to be the government of Malaysia, the whole of Malaysia would be Islamized, and Singapore would be affected too. The recent showing and respect PAS commands, not only from its allied parties in PKR, but from ordinary Malaysian citizens (especially non-Muslims), debunks all the stereotypical thinking anyone may have about PAS.
Whatever anyone may claim what is the main factor for PAS’s sterling performance, it must be acknowledged that it manages to settle all its internal conflicts internally. That is the key to running a strong political party.
Note that Singapore’s opposition is truly in a pathetic state, always quarreling and fighting among themselves. If our opposition can only be half as united as PAS, maybe we could see some real challenge put up against the PAP.
Sadly, I don’t think so, as long as we have opposition leaders who wish to push their own personal agenda.
