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While some PAS stalwarts claim the talks between certain UMNO and PAS leaders were aimed to trap PAS, UMNO leaders asked the nation not to be worried as the focus is on Malay and Islam issues (well, that creates more panic now!). Lim Guan Eng says nothing much to worry but he was interested to know what the talks were all about.

Umno supreme council member Datuk Shahrir Abdul Samad said DAP should
not be overly suspicious as Umno had not abandoned its multi racial
stance.

While UMNO leaders try to clear the air that the talks were purely on the topics above and that non-Muslims should not be worried, Khir Toyo proudly reveals that there were efforts to coax PAS to join UMNO and rule over Selangor just days after the general elections.

In a posting on his blog, Khir said Umno had offered its arch-rival
PAS the menteri besar post during a dialogue session held shortly after
the elections.

Apart from this, he said PAS was also offered the
deputy menteri besar as well as four executive councillors posts if it
agreed to form the coalition.

Khir also said he was willing to be
left out of the state government line-up if that would encourage PAS to
accept the partnership.

“I brought them (PAS) for a muzakarah
(dialogue) with the prime minister and suggested to Abdullah (Ahmad
Badawi) that PAS leaders in Selangor be offered those posts,” he added.

For PAS, the announcement of such talks have created discomfort and split in the party, something that will make UMNO happy.

For UMNO, this boosts the president’s standing and push him ahead of other pretenders.

Strangely enough, the rest of BN coalition are very quiet. We must remember that MCA, MIC, etc. are against PAS as a matter of political stand. So, how does this meetings affect them? Should Gerakan, a so-called multiracial party initiate talks with PKR or DAP? Wonder what UMNO will say on that

What is the response from MIC? Happy or unhappy? Any standard replies like “we have faith in the BN spirit”?

PAS was once aligned with UMNO in the BN before the went on separate ways. So, one can’t dismiss the possibility of such affliations happening in the near future. After the demise of Nik Aziz, the road will be clear for such partnership.

And that may well mean the end of BN coalition for MCA, Gerakan, MIC and other non-Muslim parties for UMNO-PAS team will try to “islamize” the country.

With attention turning towards UMNO-PAS topic, those leaders under pressure can breathe easier now. More headache for the rest of the pack.

For Pakatan, the brittle nature of the coalition is being put test. One problem after another keeps poppin up, and only matter of time before the coalition gives way. Most likely PAS will pull out, leaving DAP and PKR. So, PAS will be the dark horse. Will they join UMNO? That will cause MCA, MIC, Gerakan et. al. to leave BN. Will these parties team up with the Pakatan duo? That will change the political scenario into Malay Muslim versus non-Muslims. I believe there’s only one winner in that duel.

Will the time to migrate come soon?