Pas: Protect Malay interests
From Straits Times, Singapore
IPOH, Aug 13 — The president of Parti Islam SeMalaysia (Pas) has said that his party is willing to leave the Pakatan Rakyat coalition if the opposition group does not protect Malay-Muslim interests.
It was the first time a top party leader has openly floated the idea of abandoning the four-month-old coalition.
Thus, the comments, by Datuk Abdul Hadi Awang, set the three-party opposition coalition abuzz. Abdul Hadi made the remarks on Sunday at a small convention of party leaders in Penang.
His comments were then played up by the Sinar Harian newspaper, which is popular in the east coast states, where Pas has strong support.
But Pas central committee member, Syed Azman Syed Ahmad Nawawi, said that the media had reported Abdul Hadi's remarks out of context.
'Abdul Hadi did say that 'if agenda Islam is not protected and upheld, PAS will leave Pakatan',' Syed Azman told The Straits Times.
But it was not a 'warning' to Pakatan as reported.
The party chief was merely making a comment on its principles of working with others, he said.
Still, the remarks were significant as Abdul Hadi had earlier led the party in informal 'Malay unity talks' with the ruling Umno party and Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi. Observers interpreted the move as an indication that the Islamic party might be willing to abandon Pakatan.
Others noted that the remarks were made in Penang just ahead of a significant by-election battle in the state pitting defacto opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim against an Umno leader, who will be selected for the contest.
There is already talk that some 13 of the 15 PAS divisions in Penang might boycott the Permatang Pauh by-election which Anwar will contest.
This is because they are dissatisfied with the Democratic Action Party (DAP), which rules the state in the name of Pakatan, but did not give them state government posts.
The opposition is also nervously watching the grassroots reactions to Abdul Hadi's remarks, as PAS leaders begin gathering in Ipoh for the five-day annual meeting which starts today.
The annual meeting is expected to witness fiery speeches by leaders split between those who want to leave Pakatan, as they fear that it will dilute Malay-Muslim interests, and those who want the party to become more multiracial in outlook.
Incidentally, five busloads of non-Muslims have been ferried to the venue of the meeting. They clearly have the backing of those within the party who want to accomodate non-Muslims.
But this will not be easy, as the party's Constitution does not allow full memberships for them.
'The party is now split,' said political analyst Sayuti Omar.
But other opposition leaders contacted yesterday also downplayed Abdul Hadi's comments, saying he was not issuing a threat to Pakatan.
The coalition's other members are Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR), led by Datuk Seri Anwar, and the Chinese-led DAP.
Tian Chua, PKR information chief, said he has a recording of Abdul Hadi's speech and did not hear anything new in it.
'He said they will not compromise, otherwise they will leave Pakatan. The Chinese-led DAP will say the same thing. And the same will be said by Indian leaders. This is the reality of multiracial living, everyone has their concerns,' he told The Straits Times.
If PAS does leave Pakatan, the states of Selangor and Perak would fall as its two other partners do not have enough seats to retain power.
'This power itself will moderate all parties and force everyone to live together in this uneasy marriage,' said DAP strategist Liew Chin Tong.
kzso - hmmmmm... the plot thickens
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