PAS MP for Shah Alam Khalid Samad insisted his party would not entertain any tie-up with Umno, ridiculing Prime Minister Najib Razak’s desperation in getting the King to invite top PAS leaders to a dinner event on Christmas Eve.
News that PAS spiritual adviser Nik Aziz, president Hadi Awang and deputy president Nasharudin Mat Isa had met Najib, his deputy Muhyiddin and had talks sparked quick cynicism amongst political watchers in the country.
“PAS leaders are aware that the move to co-operate with Umno has been rejected by members. There is no desire for PAS to entertain the request to work together,” Khalid told a press conference on Thursday.
“The invitation only showed that we together with Pakatan are strong. It actually shows how desperate Umno is. They have to use the Agong to invite PAS leaders to dinner.
Bottomline - don't deceive voters
Nonetheless, despite the conviction of his words, there is lingering unhappiness amongst voters, colleagues in PKR and DAP and even within PAS itself that the meeting had actually occured.
As Khalid himself acknowledged, it not easy to get both Najib and Muhyiddin to show up together a function at the same time as Nik Aziz, Hadi and Nasharuddin. Many smell a rat and believe that Hadi and Nasharudin have not given up on the idea of forming a "unity government" with Umno where both men would be given high-level Cabinet positions.
"It is disappointing to find out that they even agreed to meet with Najib and Muhyiddin. If there is no intention, why bother? Nobody really wants to be rude at this stage because basically everyone knows PAS won't be so silly as to jump ship now. But they have done so before, they have joined BN before. In fact, many PAS members themselves believe it will do so again," a Pakatan insider told Malaysia Chronicle.
"I think the message that some in PKR and DAP want to send to the PAS leadership and in no uncertain terms is that, if you want to flirt around, do so at your own peril. Don't expect us to tell lies to voters to cover up for you. It is quite disgusting because not only are they cheating on Pakata, but worst of all is they are deceiving voters. A lot of Malaysians especially the non-Malays voted for PAS because they thought it had changed but if Hadi and his gang are not going to behave honoroably, a lot of people are fed up enough to tell them to go to Hell."
Najib's neck on the line
Despite loud professions of confidence and huge hints of a nearby general election, Najib is facing an uphill climb both within his own Umno party as well as in the PM's chair. The chances of him being able to retain the same amount of majority against the Pakatan is slim although pundits believe he may be able to walk away with control of the federal government.
Unfortunately for him, that won't good enough for Umno. In fact, such an election result is bound to lead to his ouster as Umno president. Using Malay and Muslim unity, Najib has repeatedly sent out lures to PAS.
If the Islamist party defected, it would ease the pressure on Najib tremendously and could perhaps even help him to regain the BN's long-held two-thirds parliamentary majority lost to Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim and his Pakatan coailtion in 2008.
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