KUALA LUMPUR, April 15 — Feelers have already been sent out, and so far the response from Parti Islam SeMalaysia (PAS) leaders has been tentative.
But with talk of Malays losing their political power gaining momentum, Umno politicians are not ruling out a merger, alliance or some form of cooperation with their long-time nemesis. The Insider understands that senior PAS leaders Datuk Nik Aziz Nik Mat and Datuk Abdul Hadi Awang, while suspicious of Umno’s motives, are open to any discussion on Malay unity.
Several intermediaries reached out to PAS just after Election 2008 saw the fall of five states to the Opposition and the Barisan Nasional government lose its customary two-thirds control of Parliament. The communication was particularly intense in Perak, where there was concern at one point that the big winner DAP would insist on one of its state assemblyman becoming the menteri besar.
One option examined to preserve the political power in the hands of the Malays was a possible joining of forces between PAS and BN. This idea was shot down by the PAS commissioner for Perak.
Since then, Umno politicians, the Malay language media and Malay non-governmental organisations have painted a grave scenario for the Malays.
Party vice-president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said in an interview that the notion that non-Malays could not be kingmakers in Malaysia was no longer true. “They know that with the power of the vote and the determination, they can bring down the government. The Chinese or non-Malays can be the new determining force in politics in this country in the future."
Utusan Malaysia was more direct in its editorial on Monday. It warned the Malays that the supremacy of the race was being challenged like never before. It cautioned that non-Malays were observing how the Malays were navigating through this changed political landscape.
“Don’t let it be that over power, Malay leaders of different political leanings are willing to disregard the interest of their own race and religion...If the Malay leaders love their race, they should begin negotiations to unite our people for the sake of the dignity and supremacy of the Malays," it said.
Among some Umno politicians, there is the belief that only the Malay Rulers have the stature to convince Pas and Umno leaders to seriously consider coming together. On Saturday, the Regent of Kelantan Tengku Muhammad Faris Petra started the ball rolling with an impassioned speech.
Before a crowd of some 3,000 people, he said that efforts to unite the Malays need to be given priority over everything else because the special position of the Malays and Islam was being challenged.
There exists much suspicion between PAS and Umno, with some PAS members saying that it preferable to work with infidels than the cruel people of Umno.
Also, younger PAS leaders such as Husam Musa and Salahuddin Ayub are convinced that the Pakatan Rakyat model of standing up for all races is more appealing to Malaysians.
Still, both parties have a strong conservative spine and this constituency could push their leaders to consider the unthinkable.
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