With successive losses in the past two by-elections, first in Nenggiri, Kelantan and then the more recent one in Mahkota, Johor, opposition coalition Perikatan Nasional seems to have lost its plot with infighting and disillusionment now threatening to break up the coalition that was formed at the height of the notorious Sheraton Move!
While it may have been Bersatu that had to bear the blame for both losses, it's the non-Malay Muslim party in the coalition Gerakan that appears most vulnerable to be booted out first.
In fact, recently the once-proud multi-racial party came under intense attack after its president Dominic Lau had voiced his concerns over the disturbing trend in the last two by-elections where Malay voters appeared to be abandoning PN en masse and gravitating towards Barisan Nasional (BN).
Meanwhile, according to Mahathir Mohd Rais, Bersatu’s Federal Territories state secretary, Gerakan has been on the decline for over a decade now and therefore, was in no position to criticise its coalition partners.
He then went on to ask: Gerakan’s failure to secure a voter base, particularly among the Chinese, has been glaring when compared to the overwhelming success of DAP; therefore, what exactly does Gerakan bring to PN? And what has it done to rebuild itself?
Furthermore, according to him while PAS and Bersatu have been working tirelessly on the ground to build voter bases and secure support, Gerakan has been missing in action while hardly showing any tangible contribution to the coalition.
Mahathir literally hit the nail on the head when he summed up: Without clear answers and decisive action to revitalise the party, Gerakan will continue to be viewed as political baggage – a burden that PN may soon find no reason to carry!
Yet, this was not the first time Gerakan had found itself the target of friendly fire; last August PN election director Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor had said that Gerakan was free to leave the Malay-centric opposition coalition whenever the party wished as the door was open.
The outspoken Sanusi who is also the Kedah menteri besar was responding to an earlier statement from Gerakan deputy president Oh Tong Keong, who said his party would not mind “quitting” PN if it had to defend Chinese education and if its coalition partners do not respect the rights of non-Muslims.
Furthermore, Sanusi’s PAS colleague Ahmad Fadhli Shaari had also stated in a Facebook post that it did not rule out the possibility that Gerakan may not be part of the alliance in the future for the 16th general election; this was over the latter’s stance on the controversy surrounding donations from alcohol proceeds to Chinese vernacular schools.
Yet, Gerakan and especially its president Lau seemed to be caught between a rock and a hard place; after all, as the prominent non-Malay party in the coalition if they don't speak up for the rights and concerns of the Chinese and Indians then how can they hope to secure the votes from those two crucial communities?
In fact, last September Lau appeared to have enough of it all when he raised concerns over PAS leaders' statements about closing the Genting Highlands casino; he revealed that the remarks had placed him in an awkward position, while pointing out that he had received numerous messages from concerned individuals asking about PAS’ intentions.
However, Fadhli, the PAS information chief, reassured the Gerakan head honcho that the Islamist party would not impose an extreme form of governance, adding that it would govern according to Malaysia’s unique social conditions and multiculturalism, which according to him PAS is committed to preserving.
Fadhli also pointed out that PAS would govern each state differently based on its demographics, citing Selangor as an example, where the party would not apply the same style of governance it does in Kelantan.
However, it must be noted that back in 2022 when PAS was part of the BN-PN federal government it was Fadhli himself who seemed to have called on the government to cancel all concerts featuring international artists - even threatening to stage protests if it was not done!
Against that backdrop, as well as earlier incidents such as the closing of gaming outlets in Kedah, the banning of unisex salons in Terengganu and most recently the suggestion to close the casino in Genting, isn't it time for Gerakan and its supporters to admit the “great gamble” they took when they decided to join PN has proven to be a colossal failure and that it's now time to swallow their pride and pull out - before they are unceremoniously kicked out?
As for PN, will the withdrawal of the only multiracial party in the coalition also sound the death knell for Bersatu? After all, why would a buoyant PAS want to be burdened with another “baggage” when it can sweep up the Malay-Muslim votes all by itself?
Moreover, with Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin having earlier expressed his desire to retire, his lieutenant Azmin Ali still reeling from the morale-shattering trouncing in Mahkota, and it most vocal youth leader Wan Ahmad Fayhsal now in cold-storage in Machang after being suspended from Parliament, the question that many observers may be asking is: will Bersatu also be shown the door before the next general election? After all, for PAS, isn’t it more advantageous to team up with a resurgent Umno/BN -- for a second shot at Putrajaya?
Information source: Focus Malaysia, NST, Malaysiakini, Malay Mail and The Star
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