MCA Wanita chief Chew Mei Fun has been quoted as saying that PAS is bent on turning Malaysia into a theocratic state. She likened PAS coming to power as a first step towards the ‘Talibanisation of Malaysia’.
This was in reference to her unhappiness that some PAS members felt that female journalists covering the recently concluded PAS muktamar (annual assembly) were not properly ‘covered up’.
Is PAS that much a threat to multi-cultural Malaysia? The mainstream media has gone to great lengths to demonstrate how ‘liberal’ elements in the party were defeated by the conservative ulama wing.
This, according to several prominent analysts, is the maximum limit of PAS-PKR-DAP cooperation in Pakatan Rakyat.
It seems that the re-election of Nashruddin Md Isa as deputy president is also a clear sign that PAS-Umno talks can now continue.
In fact, several Umno leaders, including its Youth chief, said that bilateral talks between the two Malay-Muslim parties can now continue in the clear light of day.
Chew however said PAS must be stopped from coming to power at any cost. Most probably this is her personal view. One cannot imagine the MCA telling Umno it cannot continue talking to PAS because Chew thinks that PAS equals the Taliban.
It is ironic that the Wanita MCA chief has resorted to such rhetoric especially towards a party that is more popular among Chinese voters than even the MCA. Perhaps, this is one way the MCA can win back lost votes.
It seems that in a tolerant multi-racial society, it is okay to liken a legitimate Malaysian political party to terrorists, extremists and the regime responsible for blowing up the Bamiyan Buddha statues in Afghanistan.
No wonder PAS feels itself misunderstood. In its history, PAS has never once said that it was going to bathe the streets of Kuala Lumpur in Chinese blood.
Even when it came to power in Kelantan, it did not stop the Chinese from eating pork or drinking liquour. It only requested that these activities be confined to their proper places. Incidentally, this is also happening in most shopping complexes in states ruled by BN. We have to go to designated places to buy pork and spirits.
Like all other political parties, PAS has come a long way from its stronghold in the Malay majority east coast states to establishing branches in the more multi-ethnic west coast.
It is even going to Sarawak, promising to work closely with its political partners to make an impact in that state.
The party has never resorted to extra-constitutional means to promote its agenda. It has repeatedly said that it wants to establish an Islamic state but only if it can command two-thirds support in Parliament.
Impact of merger
Umno, on the other hand, clearly represents Malay hegemony. Its mouthpiece in the mainstream press tells non-Malays that we should be grateful for our citizenship, that we must know our limits and that any demand for equality is seditious.
Yet, on the same page, it tells us that we must all be ‘1Malaysia’, that ethnic groups must go beyond tolerance to establish genuine friendships.
But, we must not forget that we are not bumiputera, that we are living in this country on the generosity of the Malays and that we must never hope that citizenship means equal rights. No wonder the non-Umno component parties in the BN are a confused lot.
PAS’ agenda is clearly Islamic and its ideology is prophetic. It believes that eventually, everyone will see that Islam is the true religion and that it is only a matter of time before an Islamic state
will come into being. This type of ideology is not attractive to everyone, especially those of us who are non-Muslims.
But at the core of their struggle is social justice, economic sustainability and, in some circles, a people-oriented welfare state. With such an agenda, PAS will be very reluctant to join hands with Umno, which is bent on a unity government to preserve its own dominant role in the Malay-Muslim community.
In short, we have two parties with very different agendas. In fact, Umno has more in common with the MCA than it does with PAS. In a multi-ethnic context, the Umno ideology, which is materialist and race-based, has been widely popular especially in a developing context because its leaders were genuinely secularists.
Abdul Razak Hussein believed in big government and his policies were socialist in nature. Dr Mahathir Mohamad favoured the rational development theory, allowing market forces a freer hand in determining the country’s destiny.
From 1970 to 1996, Malaysia enjoyed big growth spurts, creating a consumerist and property-owning society.
But it was also a very unequal society and materialism created large-scale dissatisfaction, which some people like to say is the missing ‘spiritual’ aspect of development. Hence PAS’ (and the opposition's) growing popularity based on its message of people-oriented welfare, social justice and non-racialism.
Umno sees PKR as its true enemy
The main question is whether an Umno-PAS union at this point will help solidify Umno’s position or encourage greater hardline policies on Islamic religious matters.
In the event of a dispute between Muslims and non-Muslims, when Umno had an overwhelming majority in Parliament, it seems that the civil courts have abdicated in favour of the Syariah Court.
islamic stateIt was Umno that unilaterally declared Malaysia as an ‘Islamic state’ with the blessings of the MCA.
PAS has repeatedly said that it wants to see justice done. It has not yet had a chance to come up with a just solution for religious disputes.
It would be desirable if Muslims all get together to sort things out, but the objective must always be to give justice and not to shore up one's fading political fortunes.
For the rest of us, we must watch this space carefully. Umno is dying to talk to PAS. They will even offer Perak to PAS and quite possibly even Selangor. But this means that Umno has decided that PKR is their one true enemy and that PKR Malays must be stopped at all costs.
But there is no such thing as a free lunch. Newly-elected PAS leaders will have to remember all the scandals, corruption and abuse of power that they accused Umno of doing.
But if it is just to talk about Muslim issues, PAS and all other Muslims should participate actively. At this point, I have more faith in PAS with its brand of social justice than the government we have today.
As for Chew, she can recommend to the MCA to be extra-vigilant when PAS actually resumes talks with Umno. She can study PAS’ ideology and based on her vast experience in politics, make a truthful assessment about the party.
It would be more helpful if she can explain to all Malaysians why PAS will be bad for the country. Scare tactics will not be as effective as it was in the past. After the PKFZ, it might be more advisable for her to explain why Malaysians should trust her party more than PAS.
(First Published on 9 June 2009)
This was in reference to her unhappiness that some PAS members felt that female journalists covering the recently concluded PAS muktamar (annual assembly) were not properly ‘covered up’.
Is PAS that much a threat to multi-cultural Malaysia? The mainstream media has gone to great lengths to demonstrate how ‘liberal’ elements in the party were defeated by the conservative ulama wing.
This, according to several prominent analysts, is the maximum limit of PAS-PKR-DAP cooperation in Pakatan Rakyat.
It seems that the re-election of Nashruddin Md Isa as deputy president is also a clear sign that PAS-Umno talks can now continue.
In fact, several Umno leaders, including its Youth chief, said that bilateral talks between the two Malay-Muslim parties can now continue in the clear light of day.
Chew however said PAS must be stopped from coming to power at any cost. Most probably this is her personal view. One cannot imagine the MCA telling Umno it cannot continue talking to PAS because Chew thinks that PAS equals the Taliban.
It is ironic that the Wanita MCA chief has resorted to such rhetoric especially towards a party that is more popular among Chinese voters than even the MCA. Perhaps, this is one way the MCA can win back lost votes.
It seems that in a tolerant multi-racial society, it is okay to liken a legitimate Malaysian political party to terrorists, extremists and the regime responsible for blowing up the Bamiyan Buddha statues in Afghanistan.
No wonder PAS feels itself misunderstood. In its history, PAS has never once said that it was going to bathe the streets of Kuala Lumpur in Chinese blood.
Even when it came to power in Kelantan, it did not stop the Chinese from eating pork or drinking liquour. It only requested that these activities be confined to their proper places. Incidentally, this is also happening in most shopping complexes in states ruled by BN. We have to go to designated places to buy pork and spirits.
Like all other political parties, PAS has come a long way from its stronghold in the Malay majority east coast states to establishing branches in the more multi-ethnic west coast.
It is even going to Sarawak, promising to work closely with its political partners to make an impact in that state.
The party has never resorted to extra-constitutional means to promote its agenda. It has repeatedly said that it wants to establish an Islamic state but only if it can command two-thirds support in Parliament.
Impact of merger
Umno, on the other hand, clearly represents Malay hegemony. Its mouthpiece in the mainstream press tells non-Malays that we should be grateful for our citizenship, that we must know our limits and that any demand for equality is seditious.
Yet, on the same page, it tells us that we must all be ‘1Malaysia’, that ethnic groups must go beyond tolerance to establish genuine friendships.
But, we must not forget that we are not bumiputera, that we are living in this country on the generosity of the Malays and that we must never hope that citizenship means equal rights. No wonder the non-Umno component parties in the BN are a confused lot.
PAS’ agenda is clearly Islamic and its ideology is prophetic. It believes that eventually, everyone will see that Islam is the true religion and that it is only a matter of time before an Islamic state
will come into being. This type of ideology is not attractive to everyone, especially those of us who are non-Muslims.
But at the core of their struggle is social justice, economic sustainability and, in some circles, a people-oriented welfare state. With such an agenda, PAS will be very reluctant to join hands with Umno, which is bent on a unity government to preserve its own dominant role in the Malay-Muslim community.
In short, we have two parties with very different agendas. In fact, Umno has more in common with the MCA than it does with PAS. In a multi-ethnic context, the Umno ideology, which is materialist and race-based, has been widely popular especially in a developing context because its leaders were genuinely secularists.
Abdul Razak Hussein believed in big government and his policies were socialist in nature. Dr Mahathir Mohamad favoured the rational development theory, allowing market forces a freer hand in determining the country’s destiny.
From 1970 to 1996, Malaysia enjoyed big growth spurts, creating a consumerist and property-owning society.
But it was also a very unequal society and materialism created large-scale dissatisfaction, which some people like to say is the missing ‘spiritual’ aspect of development. Hence PAS’ (and the opposition's) growing popularity based on its message of people-oriented welfare, social justice and non-racialism.
Umno sees PKR as its true enemy
The main question is whether an Umno-PAS union at this point will help solidify Umno’s position or encourage greater hardline policies on Islamic religious matters.
In the event of a dispute between Muslims and non-Muslims, when Umno had an overwhelming majority in Parliament, it seems that the civil courts have abdicated in favour of the Syariah Court.
islamic stateIt was Umno that unilaterally declared Malaysia as an ‘Islamic state’ with the blessings of the MCA.
PAS has repeatedly said that it wants to see justice done. It has not yet had a chance to come up with a just solution for religious disputes.
It would be desirable if Muslims all get together to sort things out, but the objective must always be to give justice and not to shore up one's fading political fortunes.
For the rest of us, we must watch this space carefully. Umno is dying to talk to PAS. They will even offer Perak to PAS and quite possibly even Selangor. But this means that Umno has decided that PKR is their one true enemy and that PKR Malays must be stopped at all costs.
But there is no such thing as a free lunch. Newly-elected PAS leaders will have to remember all the scandals, corruption and abuse of power that they accused Umno of doing.
But if it is just to talk about Muslim issues, PAS and all other Muslims should participate actively. At this point, I have more faith in PAS with its brand of social justice than the government we have today.
As for Chew, she can recommend to the MCA to be extra-vigilant when PAS actually resumes talks with Umno. She can study PAS’ ideology and based on her vast experience in politics, make a truthful assessment about the party.
It would be more helpful if she can explain to all Malaysians why PAS will be bad for the country. Scare tactics will not be as effective as it was in the past. After the PKFZ, it might be more advisable for her to explain why Malaysians should trust her party more than PAS.
(First Published on 9 June 2009)
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