The problem of PAS weighs ever more heavily on the Pakatan-PPBM alliance as talk of an early election gathers momentum. PAS, while ideologically opposed to the more pragmatic and secular world views of its former partners, has more supporters among rural voters than any other opposition party, making it an instant consideration in any opposition strategy to ensure one-on-one fights against BN.

The logic for many of those trying to woo PAS back into the opposition fold is that it is far better to unify the Malay votes for PKR, Amanah, PPBM and PAS than to split them between the opposition alliance and the Islamist party and thereby give Umno candidates the advantage.

PAS has put much time into engendering loyalty in the heartlands and in its membership. As such it can be a powerful electoral ally. Hence Umno’s courtship dance with it. Umno knows it is stuck with its elitist image. PAS, on the other hand, is seen by rural folk as an entity much closer to the ground and as such closer to the concerns of the people.

However, the Pakatan parties in particular must remember that their supporters recognise the toxic nature of PAS under the leadership of Abdul Hadi Awang. He has proven to be less than satisfactory as a bedfellow. Vindictive and reactionary, Hadi lacks the compassionate aura of the late Nik Aziz and has even alienated part of his base by reaching out to Umno.

Certain people in Pakatan still see Hadi as an asset. Perhaps the most notable among them is PKR deputy president Azmin Ali, who, we must remember, came into power as Selangor MB because PAS rejected the notion of a woman Menteri Besar in Wan Azizah Ismail.

Nevertheless, in all this talk of “anything but Umno”, there seems to be a strong tendency to avoid the question of whether or not ideological coexistence can be achieved and maintained between PAS and the parties of the opposition alliance. As seen in the fall of Pakatan Rakyat, the answer is “No”. The ideological cracks will always show no matter how cosy it gets at the campfire.

Zaid Ibrahim is right in saying that Pakatan Harapan needs to forget about PAS.

It’s true enough that the Pakatan parties have been too slow to do outreach work in the rural heartlands and have thereby failed to establish support bases there. This gives PAS all the bargaining chips in any negotiation. So it’s better to take Zaid’s advice.

Instead of negotiating with PAS, the Pakatan parties should start going into the kampungs, no matter how late in the day it is.

TK Chua is an FMT reader

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