They say politics is the art of the possible. I say it’s the art of making peace with old wounds.
As Malaysia’s political fabric remains damp from the many “Moves” that have tugged at its seams, we seem to be entering a familiar chapter: the rekindling of UMNO and PAS. Or, to borrow the words of the sentimental, a long-lost love story being reopened—despite the storms it once endured, now dusted off from a box of memory.
In a measured tone, UMNO Vice President Johari Abdul Ghani offered a curious line—“PAS is not an enemy, just a rival.” The words weren’t loud, but they were clear. He reminded us that in power-sharing, power is exactly what must be shared. Politics, he said, is not a monologue. It is a dialogue—even if the script is sometimes written behind the curtain.
Johari didn’t stop there. He turned his gaze to the young electorate, a bloc now comprising 40 percent of eligible voters in the next general election. These are no longer the easily swayed. These are students raised on critical thought, school-leavers still shaped by parental influence, and young workers already jaded by the promise of a RM300 raise that never comes. They are watching, weighing, and deciding.
Which is why Johari extended his wisdom to UMNO leaders, particularly those holding seats in Kelantan. He urged them to show grace toward PAS—because voters do not come in one colour. Today’s UMNO supporter may have marked PAS yesterday. UMNO knows this. After seven election cycles in the opposition wilderness, they’ve grown numb. And they’ve seen how PAS Youth, agile and hungry, can ignite mass movements with conviction and grit.
Then came a name from the past: Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein. In Sembrong, his name is spoken again with tones of sympathy and respect. For two years, the local division has lobbied for his suspension to be lifted. But as always in UMNO, clarity is clouded and what’s clouded remains… unspoken. Hisham, for his part, did not appeal. “I don’t even know why I was suspended,” he shrugged.
This becomes even more intriguing when you remember Hishammuddin’s well-known camaraderie with PAS leaders.
If ever there were a fitting place to begin “normalising” UMNO-PAS ties, it would be Kelantan. PAS thrives there, grassroots deep and loyal. UMNO, once dethroned, may be hoping to sow seeds once again. But Kelantan isn’t alone. In Kedah, Perlis, Terengganu, and parts of Selangor, young Malay voters are turning towards PAS—either from disillusionment or a newfound pull toward unity.
Amid this quiet choreography of reconciliation, a new drama unfolds: Tengku Zafrul, the Minister “abducted” into PKR while his own camp remains fractured and unhealed. To salt the wound, Rafizi’s camp—never short on sharp tongues—has begun openly mocking Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.
UMNO, meanwhile, stands at a crossroad. Zahid Hamidi, in a cryptic speech at Port Dickson, hinted that there’s a certain party now “tasting rice and water” after 25 years of political starvation. He warned MCA and MIC not to flirt with “new friends.” And with a smirk, he added: “Let’s see which party proves better. Maybe by December.”
Was he hinting at the 16th General Election? Or a potential withdrawal from the unity government?
What is clear, though, is Johari’s admission—UMNO was never meant to be an opposition party. But I’ll go a step further: even if fate places UMNO and PAS on the opposition bench come the next election, let them sit there with one voice, one mission, and one spirit. Not out of vengeance. Not out of political hunger. But for the people who have waited too long for calm after the Malay political storm.
And to the sceptics: remember the words of Tun Dr Mahathir—controversial as they may be, now oddly relevant again—“Malay leaders must unite not to oppress, but to lead.”
If this reunion is to happen, let it not be a seasonal romance. Not a reunion out of desperation. But a reconciliation born from awareness—that this nation, and its people, are too weary to keep being victims of politics without compassion.
In Malaysian politics, every wink carries a warning. Every smile hides a scheme. And every silence? A storm waiting to break.
Amir Al Fateh (malaydigest@gmail.com) is a content creator under the Newswav Creator programme, where you get to express yourself, be a citizen journalist, and at the same time monetize your content & reach millions of users on Newswav. Log in to creator.newswav.com and become a Newswav Creator now!
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