Friday 29 Mar 2024
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This article first appeared in The Edge Malaysia Weekly on February 25, 2019 - March 3, 2019

I love this. Satirical site The Tapir Times recently claimed that PAS strategists have assured critics that the party’s leader knows exactly where his political loyalties lie.

A fictional PAS spokesman was quoted as saying, “PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang has pledged to give his full uncompromising support to Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.”

On the other days of the week, Abdul Hadi will strongly oppose Mahathir as part of the PAS-Umno alliance.

But supporting the prime minister for only three days while joining Umno to oppose him for four days can be interpreted as favouritism, the article continues, thus Abdul Hadi can support both Mahathir and Umno for half a day each on Sundays to make it even.

Funny, isn’t it? But that’s satire, and The Tapir Times, as we know, is a parody website.

Recent antics by PAS, in particular, contradictory statements by its leaders following Abdul Hadi’s meeting with Mahathir recently, gave The Tapir Times and others the opportunity to poke fun at the party.

A quick recap. When asked by the media about the meeting, Mahathir said he was told by Abdul Hadi that PAS would not back Umno in the coming Semenyih by-election. The prime minister added that he even has an agreement in black and white, signed by PAS secretary-general Takiyuddin Hassan, no less.

PAS leader Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar, who is also the Terengganu menteri besar, refuted Mahathir, saying the party will be involved in the by-election machinery with Umno.

Then Takiyuddin jumped in and said PAS’ commitment in Semenyih will not be the same as that seen in Cameron Highlands. Can that be read as campaigning at half strength in Semenyih, compared with 100% in the highlands?

And what about the agreement he signed that was given to Mahathir? That, Takiyuddin responded, was just a “sample”. A sample about such a serious matter, and presented to Mahathir all the same? I can’t help but wonder whether Mahathir would be content with accepting, and keeping, a mere sample.

Anyway, Takiyuddin later came up with a statement to say that PAS will be throwing its support for Mahathir’s leadership as prime minister until the 15th general election and issued a written declaration “in the form of a sample”, which was given as a commitment.

However, that explanation surfaced only after PAS central committee had met in Marang. Chaired by Abdul Hadi, the meeting had been held days after Hadi met Mahathir. Why wasn’t the explanation offered earlier, considering that Takiyuddin and Ahmad Samsuri were both present with Hadi at the meeting with Mahathir?

To Bersatu president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, Mahathir told the truth and now, “PAS is trapped”.

To long-time PAS watcher Mohamad Sayuti Omar, the issue is confusing grassroots members but “they don’t mind because confusion can be covered up with religious edicts”. I take that to mean everything can or will be justified using religion, as PAS sees it.

Now, the party has insinuated that there is a plot within Pakatan Harapan to topple Mahathir via a no-confidence vote in parliament. This is no laughing matter.

Naturally, PH has denied it. A number of political analysts and observers see that as a ploy to drive a wedge between PH component parties, and in particular, between Mahathir and Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

Ilham Centre CEO Mohd Azlan Zainal sees the so-called pledge of support as a political move to “prevent Anwar from becoming prime minister”.

According to Azlan, PAS had never been “easy even during the time of Pakatan Rakyat with the idea of Anwar becoming prime minister”.

“And PAS still harbours hopes of becoming kingmaker”, but it is now seen as a party led by “opportunists without a clear direction”, he adds.

Whether the party’s insinuation about a plot to topple Mahathir is to be believed or not, it has, in a way, succeeded in creating a buzz and some mistrust within PH.

Brilliant political tactic? Perhaps.

But what it is doing in Semenyih, I can say for certain, is divisive and dangerous.

PAS says it is not going all out in the by-election, compared to Cameron Highlands, as the contest is between Malay-Muslim candidates while in the Camerons, it was a fight between a BN Muslim candidate and a non-Muslim from DAP. Apparently, independent candidate Uncle Kentang must not have caught their eye.

Add to that remarks by Abdul Hadi that Muslims were “used by the enemies of Islam” and that now, “non-Muslims are running the country”. There are more remarks of that nature, which I don’t intend to repeat.

In a nutshell, to me, all that is divisive politics and divisive politics is always dangerous.

 

Mohsin Abdullah is contributing editor at The Edge. He has covered politics for over four decades.

 

 

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