By Farish A. Noor
Now that the cat is out of the bag and the whole of Malaysia knows that there have been secret backroom dealings between UMNO and PAS; ostensibly to bring the two parties together in the name of Malay-Muslim communal solidarity, we need to pause a while and look at the political factors at work.
I highlight the political factors at work here for frankly, I see little of Islam or Islamic ethics at work in this latest round of UMNO-PAS dialogue.
Some basic historical facts are in order: PAS has, in the past, already been part of the BN UMNO-led alliance in the mid-1970s. This was during the time when PAS was led by Asri Muda, perhaps the most ethno-nationalist among PAS’s leaders and a man who was seen by many as a Malay first and a Muslim second. PAS’s entry into the BN was not without opposition: Many PAS leaders and members abandoned the party and gave up on the Islamist struggle for good. When PAS was in the BN it had to toe the BN line and even contested on the BN ticket. PAS was discredited in the eyes of an entire younger generation of Malaysians and this opened the way for the rise of new Islamist groups like ABIM and Darul Arqam instead. PAS’s marriage of convenience led to it being effectively emasculated by UMNO and when it finally left the BN in late 1970s, its base-state Kelantan was in a shambles where a state of Emergency had been declared. PAS lost Kelantan and it took the party more than a decade before it won it back in 1990.
It is for this reason that PAS veterans like Tuan Guru Nik Aziz feel so strongly that this latest round of dialogues between UMNO and PAS should stop, as he senses hidden hands that are out to instrumentalise PAS yet again.
But who are the ones who are trying to bring PAS and UMNO together? It is widely reported that among the PAS leaders who are trying to engineer this deal there are the younger PAS leaders who were not even members of the party in the 1970s, and hence they do not have the same bitter memories of betrayal and defeat like Nik Aziz does.
Looking at the profile of some of these PAS leaders, we see that they tend to come from the more outwardly conservative faction who seem more interested in superficial aspects of Islam and Islamisation such as dress codes, making people go to mosques, promoting dakwah (missionary) activities and the like.
Yet PAS is divided between the old and the new and there are also new, progressive forces in the party that understand the need to bring PAS into the political mainstream and to make the party relevant to the Malaysian public as a whole, regardless of race and religion. These are the PAS leaders who were at the forefront of the BERSIH campaign for free and fair elections, the ones who have been calling for more transparency and accountability, the ones who have tried to re-construct PAS into a modern, relevant Islamist party with national aspirations.
Between these two factions, who were the ones who helped to give PAS its victory at the recent March elections?
It is obvious that PAS’s gains this time round were partly due to the efforts of the PAS progressives who had managed to re-invent the party’s image as a modern Islamic party that is more concerned with economic-structural issues like transparency, accountability, free elections, free press and democracy. These were the issues that captured the minds of the new electorate in Malaysia, and not questions like what length a Muslim’s beard ought to be. Furthermore, it was they who managed to secure the support of thousands of non-Malay and non-Muslims who voted for PAS as part of the Pakatan Rakyat on the basis of trust (amanah) and were willing to give PAS a chance to prove that it could reach beyond its Malay-Muslim electorate and speak for all Malaysians.
As a result of this current round of UMNO-PAS negotiations, PAS’s image as a new, modern Islamic party is being deminished by the day. So is the trust and confidence of the Malaysian electorate, in particular the non-Malays and non-Muslims, who in the end may conclude that PAS’s appeals to the Malaysian nation as a whole was just cosmetic and that in the final analysis, despite calling itself an Islamist party, it is simply a Malay party concerned about Malay issues and promoting Malay interests. How can PAS ever hope to recover the goodwill of the non-Malay and non-Muslim voters who voted for them, should PAS lose their trust?
It is also ironic that PAS is being courted by its arch-nemesis UMNO, when we consider the simple historical fact that it was UMNO that has been demonising PAS all along. Have we forgotten the clashes of the mid-1980s, like the Memali incident (leading to the killing of PAS leader Ibrahim Libya and his followers), Operation Kenari (that led to arrests of PAS members and the accusation of PAS harbouring militants), the KMM and al-Maunah incidents when PAS was again accused of having links with terrorist groups? So is this new Hadari version of UMNO now about to cut a deal with the very same PAS that they have been accusing of being militant and radical; and if so, what will this do to the image of the Malaysian government if and when it has this very same ‘militant’ PAS in its company?
Which brings us to the last point: For more than three decades now the Islamisation race between UMNO and PAS has witnessed UMNO’s sustained attack on PAS as a party that is cast as fundamentalist, reactionary, militant and dangerous. Now as a result of the poor showing of the BN at the March 2008 elections, UMNO is doing another volte-face and courting PAS in the name of Malay racial and communal solidarity. But throughout this period (1980-2008) it was UMNO that cast itself in the international arena as the ‘good’ Muslims and PAS as the ‘bad’ Muslims.
The current establishment has even gone as far as broadcasting to the world that UMNO’s brand of Hadari Islam is the correct, moderate and modern Islam to be emulated, juxtaposed to PAS’s Islam which is painted in Taliban-esque colours. To bring PAS that has been so vilified into the BN coalition would certainly raise eyebrows the world over and give cause for foreign governments and investors to think twice: Who was lying then, UMNO or PAS? Was UMNO wrong to cast PAS in a negative light? Or has UMNO now endorsed PAS’s version of Islam that it once decried as being fundamentalist and militant? Either way, the image of Malaysia and the Malaysian government is at stake at a time when the world is already watching Malaysia closely as a result of the repeat of the sodomy allegations against Anwar.
All of this points to the picture of a weak government that has lost its politcal bearings and compass. UMNO’s courting of PAS (and vice-versa) reminds us that racial considerations come before all else in Malaysia still, and that despite the attempts to turn PAS into a truly Islamic party that transcends race and communal politics, there remain pockets of ethno-nationalist sympathy in that party.
One can only hope for the sake of Malaysia, and Malaysia’s weak but slowly emerging democracy, that the modern progressive voices in PAS will prevail to scuttle this dubious round of backroom negotiations.
#1 by zak_hammaad on Thursday, 24 July 2008 - 12:30 am
UMNO needs PAS more than PAS needs UMNO.
I also advise Farish to keep up with the news :^)
http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/7/23/nation/20080723205804&sec=nation
#2 by freedom to speak on Thursday, 24 July 2008 - 12:36 am
UMNO’s action is expected. They are reaching out to anyone/anything to pull them out of that sinking ship.
PAS’s action though, is very suspect. Why are they harbouring these, unless they have some “hidden agenda”.
PAS, after being bitten by UMNOputras for decades, they still want to “dialogue” with them. Is this a love-hate relationship? This only happens between lovers. Does UMNO and PAS have a “marriage pact” that we don’t know about.
They already have a “pact” with Pakatan Rakyat, Now they want some extra-marital affair with UMNO.
They have a term for it, not nice to say, but, I reserve my comment to see where this will go.
#3 by dawsheng on Thursday, 24 July 2008 - 12:42 am
“UMNO needs PAS more than PAS needs UMNO.”
Sama aje, sama sama main belakang each other! Sekarang muzakarah salah pulak, patut muqabalah konon! Tak payah cakap banyak, PAS masuk UMNO atau UMNO masuk PAS takkan jadi lain macam? Takkan UMNO tak rasuah lagi? PAS mimpi ke UMNO yang mimpi?
#4 by milduser on Thursday, 24 July 2008 - 12:42 am
Latest news is that the talks are off. Not dialogues but just ordinary meetings of leaders. PAS is commited to Pakatan!
#5 by dawsheng on Thursday, 24 July 2008 - 12:45 am
Muzakarah ke muqabalah ke takkan PAS boleh telan UMNO?
#6 by dawsheng on Thursday, 24 July 2008 - 12:48 am
Kalau ada orang UMNO yang sudi masuk PAS, kemungkinan orang itu Pak Lah kot?
#7 by calvin_ngan on Thursday, 24 July 2008 - 12:51 am
I’m not a muslim, but I think PAS or Muslim in general should ‘rebrand’ themselves, instead of saying allah knows it best or allah will guide me, they should help themselves first. I always believe that when a person finds the strength and spirit to do something, only then does god join in.
PAS in pakatan should proves that Islam is not about backwards or hudud law.
#8 by undergrad2 on Thursday, 24 July 2008 - 1:33 am
…and instead of saying “God willing”, why not say I’m willing?? “God helps he who helps himself” to include helping yourself with your employer’s money and “thou shalt love your neigbor” to include making love to your neighbor’s wife when he is out of town?? It makes more sense!
#9 by Tuanku Ripleys on Thursday, 24 July 2008 - 1:37 am
Recalled my past Ustaz taught me about the “True Muslim” scholar shall never “buat khianat” on his own Muslim brothers and sisters.
Based on my 5 years studied in Pengetahuan Agama Islam, Nabi Muhammad s.w.t quoted in the Quran said ” Such secret meetings were “Haram” or “Tak Suci” where hidden agendas are bad faith and non-halal are most sinful acts in Muslims because secret meetings are held by evil spiritual mentality leaders unless the contents of the meetings are open for fair hearing and judgement from entire rakyat communities”
The so called “Muzakarah” or “Muqabalah” are almost the same meanings in Islamic definition as spelled out in Quran bible. So PAS cannot twisted the sentence to confuse the non-Muslims to believe that a dialogue and face to face talk are different and served differ meanings.
Looks like PAS young leaders failed to uphold their saint honest believe and many clean promises to the Rakyat in 12th GE. PAS broke their words and betraying their trustworthy Islam religion when PAS and UMNO held few secretive talks to unite Malays as main excuses. As many Malays understand that when one party was corrupt and abused the Malays’ rights for past 50 years, a SINFUL Act created earlier is very difficult to clean in the past where bad omen has set into their greed minds.
As a Muslim party, PAS leaders have failed to uphold their Muslim religion by betraying their Muslim partners in Pakatan Rakyat. As a result of this current round of UMNO-PAS negotiations, PAS’s image as a new, modern Islamic party is being deminished by the day. So is the trust and confidence of the Malaysian electorate, in particular the non-Malays and non-Muslims, who in the end may conclude that PAS’s appeals to the Malaysian nation as a whole was just cosmetic and that in the final analysis, despite calling itself an Islamist party, it is simply a Malay party concerned about Malay issues and promoting Malay interests.
How can PAS ever hope to recover the goodwill of the non-Malay and non-Muslim voters who voted for them, should PAS lose their trust?
Never mind, let PAS leaders learn to play racist card with UMNO at this time around, the fire of hell of past history in 1970 will caught up with the young PAS leaders.
Pakatan Rakyat in DAP and PKR can survive with or without any betrayed PAS party. Simple to kick out insincere PAS leaders from Pakatan States forever.
All Malaysians regardless of race and creed will reject PAS young turks in any elections in Malaysia.
PAS doomdays are coming soon !
HIDUP PAKATAN RAKYAT – INSYALLAH
#10 by passerby on Thursday, 24 July 2008 - 3:15 am
I am always against the use of “God willing” whenever making a promise or a commitment because I don’t see the seriousness whenever such words are used.
Can you sue a person if he wrote on the IOU that “If “God willing”, I will repay the loan by certain date.” Is it his fault that he is not repaying or is it because God is not Willing in this case?
#11 by undergrad2 on Thursday, 24 July 2008 - 3:25 am
RPK is about to identify a witness present in the meeting between Saiful and Najib, who was brought there for the sole purpose of corroborating Saiful’s presence!
RPK will expose Najib this time – God willing!
#12 by undergrad2 on Thursday, 24 July 2008 - 3:28 am
RPK is about to identify the witness present in the meeting with Saiful, borught only for the sole purpose of being a witness. Read what the witness has had to say about what happened and what didn’t happen.
RPK is about to identify this material witness – God willing!
#13 by ADAM YONG IBNI ABDULLAH on Thursday, 24 July 2008 - 6:06 am
Whatever credibility that PAS has or had is lost by this ” secret meeting”.
It was not necessary to discuss ISLAM in secret meeting.
It was not necessary to discuss MALAY unity in secret meeting.
Regardless of the new hiphop breed of pas member or the taliban minded member, this is hypocrisy.I am so afraid that once Tok Guru Nik Aziz is no longer alive, than PAS is past.
Hadi is no Nik Aziz, and he loves an entourage of followers , very different and with his arrogance, Hadi sees an opportunity as the next PM of Malaysia.
The people of Trengganu would know him better to boot him out of Trengganu in 2004. It was not PAS they dont like ,but rather Hadi. Yet Tok Guru retained Kelantan in 2004 .
PAS – you have betrayed Malaysians in having (TOP SECRET TALK).
It was not necessary and is not necessary. Hadi – go and read the Holy KORAN, ONE MORE TIME CLOSELY , and tell me,where it is stated that secret talks ON ISLAM are written in the BOOK.
wasallam.
a muslim.
#14 by bumi-non-malay on Thursday, 24 July 2008 - 6:52 am
So is that the reason why PAS have not abolish the Apostasy Law in Kelantan with 2/3 majority even though the hand holding ceremony of “People Declaration” was made prior to election. Never Vote PAS and PKR better strenghten their fragile position.
DAP needs to work harder to bring Nizar into DAP or he will be a one term MB……time to make MB, CM one term…….Shall Junior Lim move to Perak next to create the next history as MB??…..
Make Penang the Freedom of Religon State QUICK!!……move forward and send clear message that Penang will lead in making Malaysia a better place!!
Start Condeming the thought that Malay can be born Muslim- Ridiculous.
Start the Agenda that Orang Asli are the TRUE Bumiputera of Malaysia…..Malaysia of sane mind will decide the truth from Lies!!
#15 by cemerlang on Thursday, 24 July 2008 - 6:57 am
Wow ! Malaysia is so full of Allah.
#16 by mendela on Thursday, 24 July 2008 - 7:34 am
Take a break.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4mCDZMWVWuc
#17 by Tuanku Ripleys on Thursday, 24 July 2008 - 7:38 am
UMNO KHIANATI ISLAM DAN KETUANAN MELAYU
Oleh : Ketua Penerangan PAS Pusat
Tuesday, 22 July 2008
PENDEDAHAN Pesiden Umno, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi bahawa telah berlaku tiga pertemuan antara beliau dengan pimpinan PAS telah menambahkan lagi kekecohan politik negara. Tidak cukup dengan isu krisis dalaman Umno dan kes Altantuya, membawa pula kepada isu pembentukan kerajaan alternatif sebelum 16 September dan kes liwat Anwar Ibrahim. Kemudian, Pak Lah dan Najib Razak bersetuju supaya peralihan kuasa dibuat pada 2010. Dalam hiruk-pikuk ini, Pak Lah mengumumkan bahawa PAS sedang brmuzakarah dengan Umno dalam isu Islam dan ketuanan Melayu.
Tidak sedikit pemerhati politik, penyokong Pakatan Rakyat (PR) dan pimpinan PR malah ahli dan pimpinan PAS turut marahkan PAS dalam soal ini. Setidak-tidaknya mereka memberi ingat supaya pimpinan PAS tidak terperangkap dengan permainan politik desprate Umno dalam mempertahankan survival mereka. Ini telah menjadi persoalan yang besar kepada rakyat. Adakah PAS benar-benar serius ingin mengalih pendekatannya dengan menyertai kem BN dan mengapa PAS harus tinggalkan PR setelah pakatan ini mendapat kepercayaan rakyat? Benarkah PAS bermaksud demikian atau ia hanya manipulasi media untuk menjayakan drama yang dipilot oleh Pak Lah.
Mursyidul Am PAS sudah membuat penegasan bahawa ini bukan kerjasama politik. Ia hanya satu perundingan peribadi yang tidak menjejaskan hubungan PAS dalam PR. Tuan Guru mengingatkan PAS supaya berhati-hati jangan sampai terlanjur kerana tidak mahu titik hitam bersama BN berulang. Ini bukan pertama kali Umno mempermainkan PAS dalam menyelamatkan politik mereka. Ketika Umno berpecah dengan Dato’ Onn pada 1951, Tunku Abdul Rahman berusaha menarik PAS menyertai Persidangan Pertubuhan Melayu di Johor Bahru, diikuti oleh penyertaan PAS dalam National Convention pada 1953. Tujuan utama Tunku Abdul Rahman berbuat demikian kerana bimbang Umno terkubur setelah National Conference tajaan Dato’ Onn mendapat sokongan parti-parti politik ketika itu.
Pemain utama yang menyebabkan PAS menyertai National Convention dan membuatkan Yang Dipertua Agung PAS, Tuan Haji Ahmad Fuad meninggalkan PAS ialah Tuan Haji Ahmad Badawi, bapa Presiden Umno. Selepas memecahkan PAS pada 1953, beliau meninggalkan PAS untuk terus bersama Umno. Melalui National Convention tajaan Tunku Abdul Rahman juga, Umno telah memperdayakan parti-parti Melayu seperti PAS dan PMS dengan memberikan hak mengundi kepada warga asing mengikut jus soli, selain menolak usul PAS untuk menambahkan wakil Melayu dalam Majlis Perundangan Persekutuan. Selepas tiga bulan, PAS meninggalkan National Convention yang diperalatkan oleh Umno ini.
Selepas pelbagai fitnah dilemparkan Umno ke atas PAS seperti komunis, agen asing, pro Indonesia dan lain-lain sehingga membawa kepada penyalahgunaan ISA dalam isu takfir dan konfrantasi 1963, Umno dengan tiba-tiba merujuk kepada PAS selepas tragedi 13 Mei 1969. Sudah ramai pengkaji sejarah yang telah mengetahui siapa sebenarnya di sebalik 13 Mei ini sehingga ada tulisan berkaitannya diharamkan. Atas isu ketuanan Melayu, sekonyong-konyong Tun Razak menemui Datuk Asri untuk meminta kerjasama PAS. Selepas Kerajaan Campuran PAS-Perikatan dibentuk pada 1973 dan Barisan Nasional (BN) ditubuhkan pada 1974, Umno kembali kuat. Akhirnya PAS disingkirkan denga cara yang tragis juga.
Pimpinan PAS sering kali ikhlas setiap kali diajak berunding oleh mana-mana pihak. Mungkin kerana itu menjadikan PAS parti yang paling banyak kerjasama politik. Tetapi kerana ’terlalu lurus’ juga, mungkin membuatkan PAS sering menjadi mangsa politik licik Umno. Selepas Peristiwa Memali yang membunuhkan 14 ahli PAS pada November 1985, Umno mengajak PAS bertemu secara sulit dalam ’pertemuan 10 mata’, tetapi belum apa-apa mereka sudah mengumumkan kepada media. Orang-orang Cina dalam CCC cukup terkilan dengan tindakan PAS ’tikam belakang’, tetapi sebenarnya PAS yang ditikam oleh Umno dari belakang. PAS tidak mengkhianati orang Cina ketika itu. Kesannya, PAS kalah teruk dalam pilihan raya 1986.
Dr Mahathir sendiri beberapa kali cuba memancing PAS pada 1999, tetapi rundingan itu gagal apabila beberapa tuntutan PAS tidak dapat dipenuhi. Selepas 2004, ketika Umno kuat, beberapa permintaan Pemuda PAS untuk bermuzakarah dengan Pemuda Umno tidak dilayan. Tiba-tiba, apabila Umno kembali nazak, mereka ’merindui’ semula PAS. Mereka mencari PAS dan berusaha bertemu PAS secara sulit, kononnya kerana mahu membincangkan kepentingan Islam dan ketuanan Melayu. Apabila beberapa pimpinan PAS hadir untuk mendengar apa yang hendak diperkatakan oleh Umno, Pak Lah mengambil kesempatan untuk mengeruhkan hubungan PAS sesama PAS dan PAS dengan PR. Sedangkan PAS tidak pernah membuat apa-apa persetujuan atau keputusan berkaitan pertemuan ini. Ia hanya sekadar pertemuan untuk mendengar apa rintihan dari Umno. Tidak lebih dari itu.
PAS amat sedar, jika kita ingin memperkatakan tentang ketuanan Islam, maka Umnolah yang bertanggungjawab menghancurkannya, bukan orang lain. Umno mengasaskan aqidah baru yang dinamakan ’Islam Hadhari’ sehingga Presiden PAS terpaksa menulis buku ’Hadharah Islamiyah bukan Islam Hadhari’ untuk menolak agama baru ini. Pada zaman Pak Lah inilah boleh dilihat bagaimana kejadian murtad melata dengan banyak, institusi agama diperkecilkan, para ulamak dihina, sekolah-sekolah agama terpinggir, jenayah dalam negara semakin serius serta hiburan melampau terus bebas dianjurkan. Malah Pak Lah juga tidak ada hak untuk menjadi hero dalam membela ketuanan Islam di Malaysia kerana dalam perlantikan Menteri-Menteri Kabinet selepas PRU ke 12 baru-baru ini, Pak Lah masih boleh memberi kepercayaan kepada YB Senator Zaid Ibrahim untuk menjadi menteri sedangkan siapakah yang tidak kenal dengan pengkhianat agama ini yang pernah memfailkan saman terhadap kerajaan Negeri Kelantan dan Terengganu apabila meluluskan enakmen jenayah syariah, hudud dan Qisas. Bahkan, pengikut-pengikut yang bermazhab Imam Hadhari inilah yang telah mengharamkan tazkirah di masjid dan surau, menyekat pendakwah dan bertanggungjawab dalam meruntuhkan masjid di Kg. Bujal, Terengganu dan beberapa masjid di Selangor. PAS juga tidak pernah lupa tentang isu Batu Burok yang hampir-hampir meragutkan 2 nyawa orang Melayu Islam. Maka atas asas apa untuk Umno mengajak PAS bermuzakarah tentang kepentingan agama. Seumpama pencuri mengajak polis berunding untuk mengurangkan kes pecah rumah!
Dalam soal ketuanan Melayu juga, Umnolah juara dalam menghapuskannya. Bukankah dahulu pimpinan Umno berkata bahawa orang Melau tidak patut diberikan hak istimewa kerana nanti orang Melayu menjadi Red Indian di negara ini. Atas sikap ini Umno menghapuskan biasiswa untuk orang Melayu, memencilkan bahasa Melayu, menyahkan adat kebudayaan Melayu dan menggadaikan tanah rezab Melayu. Negeri Pak Lah sendiri yang dikuasai BN lebih 50 tahun, orang Melayu terpencil dan terpinggir sehingga menjadi seperti pelarian. Di Kuala Lumpur, orang Melayu hanya menguasai kawasan hitam di Chow Kit, sedangkan kawasan pertumbuhan ekonomi di Bukit Bintang dikuasai oleh orang bukan Melayu. Mereka cuba menggambarkan bahawa Umno itu Melayu, dan Melayu itu Umno. Selamat Umno, selamatlah Melayu kononnya. Walhal kerana adanya Umnolah maka Melayu benar-benar layu!
Isu yang cuba diketengahkan oleh Umno dan agen-agennya semenjak Mac 2008 adalah untuk menjerat PAS supaya berasa simpati terhadap nasib bangsanya. Seolah-olah PAS kini mengenepikan kepentingan orang Melayu sebelum ini. Umno beranggapan bahawa punca tergugatnya Islam dan terpinggirnya Melayu disebabkan kemenangan PR dan persepakatan PAS bersama dengan PKR dan DAP. Dan kesemua bebanan ini ditujukan kepada PAS dan PR sebagai punca sedangkan PR baru menjadi kerajaan selama 4 bulan serta pada masa yang sama terpaksa merawat kudis buta tinggalan kerajaan BN sebelum ini. Adakah Umno sudah lupa, Melayu di Pulau Pinang bukan terpinggir kerana DAP tetapi kerana kezaliman kerajaan BN yang telah menguasai negeri tersebut sejak 50 tahun dahulu. Adakah Umno sudah lupa, merekalah yang telah merobohkan masjid / surau di Selangor malah merekalah yang menjadikan Melayu dungu, pak angguk dan jahil dengan agama selama ini. PAS sudah beratus kali menegaskan bahawa orang Melayu akan selamat jika Islam berdaulat. Kemahuan Umno untuk bermuzakarah dengan PAS ini bukan kerana kepentingan Islam atau ketuanan Melayu, tetapi kerana survial politik mereka. Dalam keadaan PAS hanya baru mendengar apa luahan hati Umno dan tidak ada sebarang keputusan pun dibuat oleh PAS mengenainya, Umno sudah memanipulasikan muzakarah ini. Ia satu bukti yang cukup jelas bahawa Umno tidak ikhlas dan mereka hanya mahu memerangkap PAS.
Saya menyeru pimpinan dan ahli-ahli PAS supaya berhati-hati dengan permainan politik kotor ini. Ia bukan terbit dari hati ikhlas pemimpin Umno, tetapi ia satu strategi politik untuk memecahkan PAS daripada PR dan menghapuskan kepercayaan rakyat kepada PAS. Kita mesti belajar dari sejarah bahawa dulu, kini dan selamanya adalah pengkhianat dan mereka tidak melakukan sesuatu melainkan untuk mengkhianati perjuangan PAS. Jika tiada apa-apa, masakan tempua bersarang rendah. Kita jangan tergoda oleh isu-isu yang cuba ditimbulkan untuk memerangkap PAS. Biar kita menjadi pembangkang yang dimuliakan rakyat, daripada mendapat kuasa dalam penghinaan rakyat!
YB Tn Hj Mahfuz Omar
Ahli Parlimen Pokok Sena
Ketua Penerangan PAS Pusat
#18 by k1980 on Thursday, 24 July 2008 - 7:44 am
At the rate new malaysia under snoozing dollah is going, we shall soon become billionaires like zimbabweians
http://d.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20080722/capt.5e141002d760474b8a9f7bc6faa781f8.zimbabwe_new_money_hre101.jpg
#19 by chin on Thursday, 24 July 2008 - 7:54 am
Check mate ! If these young PAS leaders knows what is best for future, than you guys should stop what you are doing now. UMNO guys willing be your underdog in the moment, as once they rise to power, you guys in turn are the underdogs. The choice is yours ! Nobody can stop what you are doing, not even Nik Aziz !
#20 by Jeffrey on Thursday, 24 July 2008 - 8:04 am
Whether old or new, those of PAS’s leaders who negotiated with UMNO under the cover of Malay Unity shared the common objectives to secure power, government positions and the usuual benefits of patronage. UMNO is “weak” only in the sense that it requires the numbers from PAS to regain 2/3 and perhaps one or two state governments but is otherwise the “stronger” party being able, as incumbent, to dish out the carrots and the lollies.
UMNO has to rely on pretext of Malay Unity (not only because of some grass root concerns that the community’s political power had been eroded by the political tsunamy of March 8th) but also because had it relied on religious unity it would be difficult to reconcile, as what Farish said, moderate Hadari Islam with PAS’s brand of Islam which has been painted by it as “Taliban-esque”.
This placed the bunch of PAS’s negotiators at a big disadvantage. They looked like they sold out their own members to collaborate with the opposite side of a different religious banner; they sold out the Pakatan Rakyat and the voters who supported them because of their opposition to – rather than collaboration with – UMNO/BN. They sold out non Malays who suported them because their ideology was supposedly transcendental of race factor. They might have even sold out themselves since their entry at this point into BN will be within UMNO’s power to dictate what positions (read crumbs) they would be entitled. Had they stuck on with the Pakatan Rakyat that won power, they might get more. They have inadvertantly shown the face that they are more concerned with benefits and positions associated with power than the purity of doctrines.
It might have made sense if they were certain that Anwar who is the glue that holds the Pakatn Rakyat together will fall from the recent sodomy allegations – and with it the falling apart of PR. However this is something that is far from certain. This is because evidential proof necessary to placate an extremely skeptical public is elusive. Otherwise the government will not be trying to get Anwar’s DNA.
PAS’s spiritual adviser Tok Guru Nik Aziz is wiser and more patient as well as principled of the lot. He appreciates that longer term PAS’s objective of establishing a theocratic state is better realised either through PR vehicle or on PAS’s own but certainly not through collaborating with what he may well consider are crony capitalists wearing a religious cap, and spewing racial slogans.
Which is why on balance his counsel will probably prevail on majority in PAS over the faction led by Hadi.
However it is already too late. The other side of PAS has been revealed, pretensions exposed, at least to those supporters of PR opposed both to BN’s communal politics and the theocratic state.
#21 by yhsiew on Thursday, 24 July 2008 - 8:05 am
YAHOO ASIA NEWS (Wednesday July 23, 7:26 PM):
“For now, I have no reason to question the intention of the PAS leadership. They have given an assurance to me that the collaboration with the opposition remains and is unchanged,” he (Anwar) said.
PAS youth chief Salahuddin Ayub told AFP that there will be no more “secret meetings” with UMNO.
“We remain committed to the opposition pact. We will work together. We will not discuss with UMNO the issue of power sharing,” he said.
#22 by greenacre on Thursday, 24 July 2008 - 8:46 am
Each and everytime they say that they are islamic or muslims. Now they are talking of unity.
It is about time that someone show them the movie ‘untouchables’ acted by sean connery.
Wonder that will be of help to those unteachable fellows, swallowing public money as though there is no tomorrow.
#23 by Bigjoe on Thursday, 24 July 2008 - 8:47 am
My issue is this, who does he see as progressive and who does he see as the conservative one in PAS? The ones that held/agree to the talks were Nasaruddin Mat Isa, Mustapha Ali, Hadi Awang while the one who oppose it is under Nik Aziz camp.
It seems the young ones may not be the progressive ones while the old ones may not be the conservative ones?
#24 by PHUAKL on Thursday, 24 July 2008 - 8:59 am
Dear All
Take a look at this interesting analysis from Malaysia Waves:
http://www.malaysiawaves.com/2008/07/muzakarah-another-perspective.html
#25 by kiren on Thursday, 24 July 2008 - 9:10 am
lets see what happens next… i hope there wont be ant co- incidency again!!! cant you guys see…hindraf! elelction! altantuya! sodomy!… comes in one line….
#26 by kiren on Thursday, 24 July 2008 - 9:14 am
i wonder how are things in kl now…. well i just hope there is no 1969 riot again…. but there is always a question arises- how is anwar going to be our prime minister before or on 16th sept 2008? im kinda curiouse – cus badawi is a kinda ( degil!!) person… its so difficult for him to leave the honour sit of prime minister// even now// … some says he wants to make sure that he has enough EPF by year 2010.. thats y he’s taking long to step down!!
#27 by blablowbla on Thursday, 24 July 2008 - 9:23 am
undergrad2,u r very smart 2 use tis name,it means u r allowed 2 make mistakes,cos u r undergratuated,right?
oh,sorry,just to correct the word collaboration! :-I
#28 by MPSPK on Thursday, 24 July 2008 - 9:24 am
I think Nik Aziz’s camp is the progressive one.. the one who really knows what the people want… who actually knows how to play politics…. see how Kelantanese support him??? he already an MB for nearly 20 years!! this is his 5th term!!
Whatabout Hj Hadi camp??? he thought PAS is so strong now… he thought it is because of his leadership… he was wrong… it’s becasu Nik Aziz… remember.. Haj Hadi is a one-term MB of Terengganu… bad track record in comparison to Nik Aziz’s.
#29 by ADAM YONG IBNI ABDULLAH on Thursday, 24 July 2008 - 9:27 am
hadi was arrogant and is arrogant.
#30 by blablowbla on Thursday, 24 July 2008 - 9:29 am
dear politicians,please dun simply throw the word “god” frm ur mouth!
God is God,evil is evil,if u ppl do evil things n using God’s name,forever u b devil!
#31 by blablowbla on Thursday, 24 July 2008 - 9:33 am
typo error,graduate!
#32 by wanderer on Thursday, 24 July 2008 - 9:55 am
How do we define Muslim Unity/Malay Unity? Is it for the purpose of protecting the truth coming out from the sodomy and murder allegations. Above all, to cover all the corruptions and evil deeds of Umno leaders. Umno is trying to deflect full responsibility of their evil doings if PAS came to join them. Whether it is the New and Old PAS, they are all in together, sleeping with the devils.
#33 by NSO on Thursday, 24 July 2008 - 10:01 am
DEAR UNCLE LIM,
YOU R AN ICON TO THE ,MALAYSIAN PEOPLE… kEEP IT UP
#34 by Samuel Goh Kim Eng on Thursday, 24 July 2008 - 10:41 am
Under the guise of race and religion there’s plenty of undercurrent
With uncertainty of the direction which it will eventually flow
Trying to keep up with what’s really in vogue and still current
There’s still unlimited amount of air hot and cold for leaders to blow
(C) Samuel Goh Kim Eng – 240708
http://MotivationInMotion.blogspot.com
Thur. 24th July 2008.
#35 by StevePCH on Thursday, 24 July 2008 - 10:56 am
aiyah…. i remembered the motto on the street during last election was ” Anything but BN ” if PAS joins the devil. I truly believe Rakyat is smart enough.
I also believe PAS is not so stupid as the saying goes ” Once bitten Twice Shy “. If kena lagi, then padan muka lor !!!
They will be sodomized by BeEnd. Rakyat will vote PAS out and instead opt for PKR or DAP.
#36 by digard on Thursday, 24 July 2008 - 10:59 am
Thanks for another great analysis, Farish Noor!
Actually, we have a win-win-situation on our hands: UMNO is desperate and will do whatever is possible to stay in power. Whatever. Remember my words.
Hadi et al. enjoy the power and the limelights. Plus, probably a handsome travel allocation handed in a brown envelope, and the aspiration to become DPM (even more) in the future. Look at the sparkle in Hadi’s eyes. Truthful and trustworthy, he is not. He knows well enough what bedding with UMNO will bring for PAS. He simply doesn’t care as long as his personal thirst is quenched.
#37 by oknyua on Thursday, 24 July 2008 - 11:31 am
Yes, sir that is the danger because UMNO can unashamedly repaint themselves to the liking of PAS. The new people of PAS are like the new people of UMNO. They have no memory of the acrimonious split 20 years ago.
Once the like of Tok Guru disappears, the unholy alliance of PAS-UMNO will be a reality. No, it would not be a “Malay Unity.” It wil be based on Islam where everything will be found permissible with new Arabic “muzurakah, muzaribah, arahabah, marakah…” anything Arabic that you and I can’t understand will make the alliance of UMNO-PAS permissible.
No I am not against Malay Unity which I can easily work with.
#38 by Bigjoe on Thursday, 24 July 2008 - 12:18 pm
This is about PAS. If PAS is able to hold and continue to be progressive, UMNO has no choice but to follow and leave it racist ways behind. BUT if PAS falls back on conservatism, UMNO can continue as is..
Its not about Malay unity, its about Malay progressiveness…
#39 by nyghtsky on Thursday, 24 July 2008 - 12:25 pm
Pakatan Rakyat consist of modern Malaysian’s choice of elected representatives. Have faith that they ( our MPs ), PAS included will not fall for any UMNO bait, and join in their betrayal and sodomy of the Rakyat!
#40 by Captain on Thursday, 24 July 2008 - 12:42 pm
Melalui National Convention tajaan Tunku Abdul Rahman juga, Umno telah memperdayakan parti-parti Melayu seperti PAS dan PMS dengan memberikan hak mengundi kepada warga asing mengikut jus soli (birthright citizenship)
…..YB Tn Hj Mahfuz Omar
Ahli Parlimen Pokok Sena, Ketua Penerangan PAS Pusat
It sounds painful. Giving voting rights to non malay malaysians …expressed as ‘terpedaya’? What is Mahfuz trying to say…giving voting rights to Malaysians born in this country was a mistake?
#41 by Captain on Thursday, 24 July 2008 - 12:53 pm
just a little deviation.
Media reported Terengganu MB as saying to reporters yesterday ‘kalau bini masih cantik, buat apa tukar?’
this is an insult to womenfolk especially wives. What does UMNO leaders mean? Why wife grows old and become less bautiful, throw them out and get a new young wife?
shame. shame. shame on UMNO leaders mentality.
#42 by citizenwatch on Thursday, 24 July 2008 - 12:57 pm
The UMNO-PAS talk was conceived by UMNO as a strategic plan after the 12th GE with sub-goals and a goal. The sub-goals are:
1) To reate suspicions and disunity or split among PR
2) To regain the credibility in the eyes of the Malays.
3) To further divert attention from their current wakness, sinister acts and plans.
UMNO’s ultimate goal is to get PAS to LEAVE PR and join UMNO. If they don’t achieve this ultimate goal, they will at least be satisfied with the above sub-goals achieved. If they achieve the goal of PAS joining UMNO, it’ll be a bonus.
#43 by citizenwatch on Thursday, 24 July 2008 - 12:59 pm
Sorry in 1) it should read ‘..to create suspicions…’
#44 by One4All4One on Thursday, 24 July 2008 - 1:37 pm
Politics will be politics will be politics…and Malaysian brand of politics will be what it is now for as long as it is, unless “something drastic” happens to make it change its course.
For something which is so entrenched and hardened in local habits and nuances, the local political scenario needs a concerted and well thought-out plan of action, with specific aims and missions and agenda, graduating into a movement helmed by believable men and women of integrity, to move out of the outdated and outmoded practices and beliefs.
This is the only way out. Unless and until that is done there is little hope for a NEW Malaysia which caters for ALL Malaysians regardless of ethnicity or religious and political inclinations.
The acceptable way, perhaps, is to out-law race based political parties and politics. All political parties must be open to ALL Malaysians. Only then government policies would be colour-blind and non-race based and be fair to all.
An even and level playing field would be created where all would compete on their own merits. Even so, there shouldn’t be much worry as there is always more than enough for everyone as Malaysia is a rich nation, barring no plundering of the nation’s coffers happen through nepotism, cronyism, favouritism, or the like of them.
I sense that Malaysians are ready for that change to happen. Only thing is that the necessary and required catalyst hasn’t shown up yet.
Good luck Malaysia, and God bless.
#45 by tangwengheng on Thursday, 24 July 2008 - 1:55 pm
http://tangwengheng.blogspot.com/
In politics, the saying goes, “There is no permanent friend or foe.” And it cannot be more true in the current Malaysian political climate.
The long-standing feud between Dr M and his chosen successor, Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, which has partly contributed to BN’s dismal result in March 8 General Election, does not seem going to end anytime soon.
Despite being bitten once in 1999, with the fruits of reward in the form of Selangor and Perak State Governments, DAP braves itself for a second reunion with PAS.
With UMNO-PAS talks proceeding at the highest level behind DAP’s back, will the rocket be bitten twice by the same snake, albeit different holes?
#46 by ShiokGuy on Thursday, 24 July 2008 - 2:00 pm
PAS isanother BN component party in the making.. I blog about this in early April after the GE12, My uncles and aunties who were HARDCORE AGAINST GREEN MOON PAS called angrily after PAS TALK ABOUT their stupid thing again..
http://shiokguy.blogspot.com/2008/04/pas-another-umno-in-making.html
I shouldn’t have convinced them to vote for PAS then, if PAS still going around about islamic state and all those nonsense. They will be reduce to just one seat against.. The One seat is just for the respect for Old Nik Aziz.
Before GE12, GE9-GE11, we always vote in the following rules.. Vote Opposition unless it PAS. If the only opposition is PAS.. Then vote BN. We manage to convince a lot of our uncles and aunties to Just Vote Opposition and does not matter if it is PAS>> Now PAS want to rape and sodomize us? Sorry! NO WAY
Shiok Guy
#47 by One4All4One on Thursday, 24 July 2008 - 2:31 pm
PAS must always remember its indebtedness to the voters who are from all ethnic groups to get to where it is now.
It is in a position of power to serve the nation and rakyat. Didn’t all political parties have that as their mission? Dr Khir Toyo was said to be tempted to influence PAS to form the State government, a big catch indeed, after BN’s unexpected exit in Selangor after GE12.
#48 by Emily Pratt on Thursday, 24 July 2008 - 2:44 pm
PAS… stop! Don’t even think of betraying the rakyat. If you do not heed the rakyat’s warning…
by GE-13, PAS will be booted out of Kelantan, Perlis, Kedah, & Perak. They will be like Gerakan, a political party with no representation in the government.
EP
#49 by One4All4One on Thursday, 24 July 2008 - 2:49 pm
Mr Khir Toyo once declared to clear opposition political parties from the state of Selangor. That happened just before GE12. What do PAS have to say about that? And then he suggested to form the state government with PAS after UMNO’s dismal failure? What a contradiction! It smacks of intrigue and sinister aims. And being hypocritical at that. What should PAS read into this?
#50 by oknyua on Thursday, 24 July 2008 - 3:15 pm
Media reported Terengganu MB as saying to reporters yesterday ‘kalau bini masih cantik, buat apa tukar?’
- Captain
No that is not a deviation, that is their mentality. Talak tiga when wrinkles appear on their wives. Read RPK’s artciles on how he is really pissed off with this mentality. That explains the Mercedes. Proton not wanted. That explains the talk between UMNO and PAS – maybe PR’s days are numbered.