KUALA LUMPUR (Dec 10): Gerakan and MCA, responding to Datuk Seri Najib Razak's offer for PAS to work with Umno to build a "perfect" Malaysia, said cooperation on certain issues was acceptable but drew the line at hudud.
Gerakan secretary-general Datuk Liang Teck Meng said as long as the proposed working relationship between Umno and PAS did not affect the policies of Barisan Nasional (BN), and was on the basis of working on certain issues to resolve them, he would not personally object.
"We would welcome any party that is willing to work with BN, not just PAS. Anyway, PAS is not joining the coalition. It is speculative to say that.
"They are just going to work together on certain issues, and if that will solve problems and bring a win-win situation, it should be okay.
"Like in Selangor, for instance. Working together may enable them to solve issues that are politicised by the PKR-led state government, like the water issue. It may be a good thing, depending how you looking at it," he told The Malaysian Insider.
But Liang said there should be conditions attached to ensure the collaboration between Umno and PAS would not jeopardise other BN component parties.
"It cannot affect our stand or our policies, like on hudud," he said.
In May, three Gerakan members — Tuan Mat Tuan Wil, Soh Hoon Lee and Chung Mon Sie — sought leave from the Federal Court to challenge the constitutionality of the Kelantan Shariah Criminal Code II 1993 (Amendment 2015) or hudud, which was earlier passed by the state legislative assembly.
Their suit was rejected by the Federal Court which ruled that they failed to show they were Muslims to be affected by the enactment. Gerakan said it would file a fresh challenge.
Meanwhile, MCA central committee member Datuk Seri Ti Lian Ker said the collaboration between Umno and PAS would be something MCA as a component party in BN must look into carefully.
"There is nothing we can do to stop them from forming another alliance. But we must know what is the basis and extent of this cooperation.
"Is PAS going to come to terms with the spirit of BN, or will BN have to make compromises? These are things we must know first.
"But whatever it is, it (the collaboration) must not compromise the BN foundation and constitution, which is also to uphold the spirit of inclusiveness among Malaysia's multiethnic, multicultural and multi-religious society."
This morning, in his policy speech at the Umno general assembly, Najib who is also prime ?minister, said PAS had been unceremoniously "kicked out" of the opposition coalition, and Umno was "relieved and happy" that the Islamist party was no longer with the pact.
"With an open heart and independent soul, we offer them a relationship (tali silaturrahim), we offer a brother?hood (ikatan ukhuwah) towards building a perfect Malaysia," he said.
Najib said even the Quran mentioned how love may turn into hate one day, and hate may turn into love, adding that it was important for the ummah, or Muslim brotherhood, to stay united.