This article first appeared in The Edge Malaysia Weekly on March 11, 2019 - March 17, 2019
SO, Umno and PAS have formalised ties. Last Tuesday, they finally announced their official collaboration, which Umno deputy president Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan called a marriage.
“We are married,” a beaming Mohamad told the media after the all-important meeting with PAS leaders, led by their deputy president, Datuk Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man.
And Mohamad expanded on the romantic theme to say, “We exchanged rings in Sungai Kandis, were engaged in Seri Setia and decided to get married. This is the official ceremony. Now we are sitting on the dais.” In a Malay wedding, that would be the bersanding ceremony.
By Sungai Kandis, Mohamad meant the by-election in August last year, which was the start of cooperation between the two parties after the 14th general election. PAS made way for Umno to contest, but the Umno candidate lost to Pakatan Harapan.
As for Seri Setia, it was a reference to the by-election a month later when it was Umno’s turn to sit it out. But the PAS candidate also lost, again to PH.
It was the same scenario for the Port Dickson by-election. PAS fielded its candidate instead of Umno. PAS lost to PH’s Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. But Umno stalwart Tan Sri Mohd Isa Abdul Samad also contested as an independent — so the question was raised as to whether PAS was played out. The suspicion was whether Isa was sponsored by Umno or at the very least whether his presence in the contest had the blessings of Umno.
Then came Cameron Highlands and Semenyih. You know the story. Both by-elections were won by Umno, with great help from PAS. Both parties believe they have finally found the right chemistry. That obviously led to the “wedding”.
There are no details except Mohamad saying the two parties are “married” and “will work on a political platform without any condition, especially in by-elections, in the interests of Muslims and Malays”.
I don’t know if “we are married” is the right thing to say, albeit in jest, because the question to ask is, who’s the bride and who’s the groom?
Going by the conservative idea of marriage, which I suspect PAS subscribes to (and possibly the present-day Umno adheres to), the wife, although always loyal and supportive of the husband, will always be a step behind. The husband is head of the family and he knows best.
Even when it was known as a collaboration, I did not know if it should be called Umno-PAS or PAS-Umno cooperation. Because the party mentioned first would be perceived as leading the pact. The latter would always be seen as the lesser partner or, worse still, viewed as the party needing the cooperation more.
So, who needs the marriage more? Petty though it may sound, that is how touchy things can be, if not now, then later.
Just who needs who? Umno needs PAS or the other way round? The answer depends on who you talk to. But the general consensus among the neutrals is that it is Umno that needs to get married badly, considering the present situation it is in, having lost power after enjoying it for decades.
PAS, too, has its share of political troubles, but it can fall back on its large number of supporters — members who are obsessively loyal to the party and leaders. Say what you want, but they will remain loyal.
For now, being married, Umno and PAS are confident of winning the next by-election — the Negeri Sembilan state assembly seat of Rantau.
Nobody is talking about who contributed more to the Cameron Highlands and Semenyih victories. But it is a fact that Umno on its own would have lost. PAS’ contribution was immense. People who voted for PAS in GE14 voted for Umno/Barisan Nasional this time.
Will the Umno-PAS cooperation work? Obviously, the marriage was solemnised with an eye on winning the 15th general election.
To Azlan Zainal, CEO of research outfit Ilham Centre, it is too early to tell but “it’s not impossible for the Malay voting pattern to swing back to the opposition and for PH to lose some states and even federal power if it makes the wrong moves and does not correct its mistakes now”.
Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia supreme council member Datuk A Kadir Jasin, even before the marriage was announced, had warned PH not to underestimate “the potential Umno-PAS union”.
But, says Azlan, the voting trend of the Malays differs according to constituency — urban or rural areas or FELDA schemes.
Long-time PAS watcher Mohamad Sayuti Omar opines that the Umno-PAS pact can see the two parties winning Malay seats, but to rule Malaysia will not be possible as they would need the support of all communities and not only Malays.
Azlan agrees that Umno, with PAS, has only succeeded in hurting the feelings of non-Malays, resulting in them turning away from both parties.
Still, the big question is, are Umno and PAS in it for the long haul?
“No, this is temporary. It is more based on vengeance and anger, a merger of emotion rather than the idealism of a common struggle,” says Sayuti.
A political observer says, “Some people are fond of kahwin dan cerai (short-lived marriages).”
And if I may add, even without a divorce, a Muslim man can take another wife. Or in some cases, wives.
Mohsin Abdullah is a contributing editor at The Edge. He has covered politics for more than four decades.
Save by subscribing to us for your print and/or digital copy.
P/S: The Edge is also available on Apple's AppStore and Androids' Google Play.