By P Ramasamy

There is a Tamil proverb that says a wolf cries when it sees a goat or lamb getting wet in the rain. Similarly, PAS is so concerned about the weakness of the opposition front that it wants to strengthen it by forming a third bloc in Selangor and perhaps later extend it to other states such as Penang. Surely, Malaysians who want serious political, economic and social changes are clear that PAS is like a “crying wolf”.

Why is PAS suddenly so concerned about the fate of the opposition front? Is it because it wants to come into the fold or is there some ulterior motive on its part? Surely, PAS cannot expect Malaysians, and especially those who believe in the opposition to end the Barisan Nasional (BN) administration, to have short memories of all the treachery it has committed.

Those who seriously believe in moving beyond the corrupt BN government cannot be expected to swallow lock, stock and barrel PAS’ sudden interest in the third bloc. The third bloc is nothing but a Trojan Horse to strengthen Umno and BN by introducing divisions within the Malay electorate. This is the simple and incontrovertible fact.

Recently, PAS had asked both PKR and PPBM to join forces with it to establish a third opposition bloc in the state of Selangor. PAS’ representative had made it clear that the DAP and Amanah would not be invited for yesterday’s ceramah because relations with them are irreparable.

PAS’s third opposition bloc in Selangor merely reflects the wild and reckless ambition of the party that is working hand-in-hand with Umno to belittle and weaken the opposition forces by the time of the next general election. The intention of forming this third bloc would not have come about without the close and amicable relationship between PAS and Umno lately. Clearly, Umno is calling the shots and PAS, like a dutiful son, is following the orders strictly.

Amusingly, it seems PAS wants to avoid three or four cornered contests in Selangor by way of the formation of the third opposition bloc. This seems to be a trap set by PAS’ knowing very well that both PKR and PPBM are not too comfortable in taking up the offer of the party.

If these two parties refuse to partake in this effort, PAS will have all the reasons to break up ties with these two parties and even justify why it had no choice but to put up candidates to fight its own battle. In other words, the third bloc is basically a way for PAS to put up candidates against PH in the coming election, knowing very well that three or four cornered fights might benefit Umno and BN.

At the ideological level, the coming together of PAS and Umno has meant the narrowing of the historical gap between ethnicity and religion. PAS, that took so much trouble to preach its universalism in the form of a religious appeal, seems to have been reduced to a mere ethnic champion. Is there any difference between the narrow and sectarian nationalism of Umno and the present ideology of PAS?

P. Ramasamy is Deputy Chief Minister II of Penang.

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