Has Pas tarnished the image of Malay Muslims in the local political arena?
KUALA LUMPUR: Pas' move to impose conditions for the muzakarah (Muslim unity talks) with Umno is baffling to most, giving rise to suspicions that it is done so as to appease the DAP.
The suspicions is based on the fact that Pas had been seen to be subservient to the DAP and this can be traced all the way back to the days when the Barisan Alternatif (BA) was incepted.
Political observers said the "subservience" is becoming more telling of late when Pas has backtracked on several subjects which it had fought for vehemently before.
Another pointed out that the "seeds of the backtracking" can be traced when Pas joined the BA in 1999 as evidenced in a Bernama news report dated 10 Oct. 1999 which quoted its Mursyidul A'am (spiritual leader) Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat as saying: "PAS has agreed to drop the idea of establishing an Islamic country in the joint-manifesto with other parties in the coallition (Keadilan, DAP and Parti Rakyat Malaysia), as we want to approach non-Muslim people".
The compromise shown by PAS towards its partners in BA and subsequently the Pakatan Rakyat is questionable and unfair if compared with the unreasonable conditions it imposed for a muzakarah with Umno is to be realised, said Umno veteran Tan Sri Sabaruddin Chik.
The former Umno secretary-general said PAS had been inconsistent and incapable of making its own decision ever since it joined the BA.
"Probably, Pas was warned by its counterparts for wanting to hold a muzakarah with Umno so much so that Pas had to come up with the condition that Umno must accept Pas alongside with PKR and DAP, if the muzakarah is to take place.
"Why would Umno want to accept that unreasonable condition? It was Pas that proposed the muzakarah and when Umno agrees, Pas then came up with all these conditions," Sabaruddin said when contacted by The Mole.
Sabaruddin said Pas' inconsistence over the issue will not only tarnish its image but will also lead to the non-Malays to lose regards for the Malay Muslim community.
A lecturer on political science Md Shukri Shuib said it was clear Pas did not embrace the real spirit muzakarah as to the party, the muzakarah is meant to be a tool for political mileage.
"Pas should not be upset if people becomes more sceptical about the party as what it has done is to merely use Malay unity for its political survival.
Md Shukri who is a lecturer as University Utara Malaysia's (UUM) School of Politics and International Studies, said Pas' attitude is not only perceived as making a mockery of Malay unity, but it further proves its political greed.
Nik Aziz's recent pronouncement that Pas is willing to hold a muzakarah with Umno surprised many especially when its is public knowledge that he holds a strong anti-Umno stance.
When he announced it, Nik Aziz did not mention any conditions but subsequently decided to come up with three conditions for Umno to fulfil; that the muzarakah must be held before the general election; Umno must make Islamic as the basis of national policies; and Umno must accept PKR and DAP.