Subscribe in a reader | Subscribe by Email 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.
A PAS leader also mentioned that UMNO tried to offer them the Selangor Menteri Besar post in order to get back Selangor.
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?
Poobalan
Strange-lah your comment.
DAP and PKR have multi-racial agenda (at least tried to portray to be, even though in reality race-based) but had no issue working with PAS in Pakatan Rakyat. Many Indians do not have problem with this PR alliance and even voted for PAS during the GE. In fact I don’t see many people saying anything about having PAS MB (Perak) or PAS dominated state admin (Selangor).
But yet when UMNO speaks to PAS, you feel uncomfortable and talk about migrating…isn’t this a little bit of over-reaction and being hypocritical ??
I heard about this many weeks ago but I couldn’t reveal it openly though I had indicated it in my posts indirectly.
Personally I find it is hard to predict how this will turn out to be as there are 2 major camps in PAS. I guess (this is just my personal opinion) that PAS will leave Pakatan but won’t join BN. My prediction is that they will be nuetral and may have some loose cooperation with BN in some states.
If and when this happens, then PR’s govt in Perak will fall and significantly weakened in Selangor. Without PAS, the dream of DSAI to capture the Federal govt will never happen. Once this becomes obvious and the evidence against DSAI increases, then PKR itself will implode ( which already started).
With weak MB, the PKR ADUNs will hold the state govt ransom. This will plunge the party into a major crisis. Some MPs and ADUNs might jump ship. DAP will likely to keep their part of their bargain but in the end there will likely be a big conflict between DAP and PKR.
In any scenario, the situation for Selangor looks bleak.
Penang will escape for now due to strong DAP govt but they will lose in the next election.
haha…funny of BN and no shame at all.
can anyone remember what Khairy Jamaluddin about in Kelantan during election GE12..??
the idea of merging showing BN desperate to get back Selangor.
mmuurrllyy…
This is not about getting Selangor. Look at the number of the seats and you will see why it is not. So please post comment after studying the matter and don’t just tembak without thinking.
The agenda is bigger, I can guess it but I am not telling. All I can say now is that it is going to be bad for PR whatever the final outcome. Look out for panicky statements from PR leaders like LKS,LGE and DSAI in the coming days.
PAS has the most number of state seats rite?
In many areas they can topple PR led state government ,specially in selangor , perak , kedah.
Not sure what Karpal was thinking when he suggested that PAS’ position in PR should be reviewed. If PAS leaves Pakatan, Kedah is gone. That means 2 out 5 states will be under PAS rule.
In Perak, DAP won the most seats. But Pakatan has just two seat majority over BN. If PAS pull out and announce support to BN, then DAP and PKR will move to opposition bench.
Selangor will be on a fine thread because DAP+PKR = PAS+BN (if PAS says they will support BN). The Sultan will then award either BN or PAS the Menteri Besar post. However, will the BN coalition partners agree to support PAS? Maybe then we can see the true colors of the parties – UMNO, MCA, MIC, Gerakan, and PPP. So, Selangor is a sticky issue.
But, in any case, both these states will have a lot of problem since there’s no clear winner. Everything will be challenged, more ruckus in assembly can be expected.
Poobalan
This time you got it right with your analysis.
The final outcome is uncertain but I am sure there is no chance of the merging of UMNO/PAS or PAS joining BN. I guess at most it will result in PAS leaving PR but remain independent or with a loose “arrangement” with UMNO.
If PAS pulls out of PR then Kedah, Perak and Kelantan will be out of PR rule. Penang is safe but Selangor will be on a thin line. But the biggest issue is that this will be the kiss of death for DSAI’s dream of being the PM. Not only that we also can expect some PKR MPs and ADUNs jumping ship in Selangor, Perak and Kedah. The result will be devastating in Selangor and there likely be a state election called by Sultan even if there is no defection in PKR ranks.
I have to agree that it would be highly unethical of PAS to join BN and BN should not resort to such dirty tactics even though DSAI is using it. After all people voted for PAS and its policies. So it would be unfair of PAS to join BN and betray the voters.
In any case the break up of PR is imminent whether happens with PAS/UMNO talks. The crisis is worst in Selangor with everyone fighting openly. The latest case is Pulau Ketam, which developing into a racial issue. And Desa Mentari is still boiling hot with racial anger.
BTW watch out in PJ, I heard there is some problem developing due to a newly constructed temple. Not sure where, but will try to find out more. Any one heard of this ?
I’m more interested in the response from coalition partners. Gerakan already dead against PAS joining BN. However, i don’t think PAS want to join or support BN. They only talk about UMNO. The rest of BN will be left out in the cold if that happens.
i think the temple is in PJU1/42A? Check out the star’s SMS column. PJU1 should be area beyond One Utama.
Correction: PJU1/42A is the road behind Dataran Prima in Kelana Jaya area. near Taman Mayang area.
Poobalan
Yeah, the BN coalition partners are unhappy though only Gerakan is openly voicing it out. Expect some fire works in the BN Supreme Council meeting. But I think despite the nervousness, experienced political observors will know that there is unlikely that UMNO/PAS union will happen.
Such talk always happen when UMNO do badly in GE. In 1969 and 1999 also the same thing happened. However in 1999, nothing came out of it. But the division between UMNO and PAS is very wide now. I think PAS is unhappy mainly because it was sidelined and being bullied by DAP and PKR in Perak, Selangor and Penang. DSAI meanwhile has less than stellar reputation and many PAS members distrust him (remember in early 1980s he spurned PAS and joined UMNO instead). I still recall that when i was in the Univ, DSAI was PAS’ Enemy No 1 and not Dr M. His relationship with the US and the pro-Isreali factor in the US govt is also a source of distrust.
Poobalan
Thanks for the info…
PJU1/42A ? Well, that’s Dataran Prima right ? Isn’t it in Kelana jaya Parliamentary area ? Don’t think there are many Indians there…