Reintegrate and start again

Writer: Xie Liang Sheng (translated name)
Guang Ming, 22-06-2015

Even though PAS conservative leaders keep urging all its party members to unite and not to leave, the open-minded faction leaders who lost in the party election seem to be dispirited. They seem to be looking for an alternate way out or starting up from scratch.

The first to express its stand is PasMa that is dominated by the open-minded faction, its president Phahrolrazi announced his intention to convert the association into a political party in order to replace PAS in joining PR. Thereafter, Mazlan, the only person that got appointed from the open-minded faction into the central committee has resigned after expressing that he felt alone as his alliance has all lost.

Other than that, when the conservative faction is appointing president from each state, the open-minded faction leader Mohamad Sabu has missed the reappointment to be the Penang commissioner. Moreover, the Kedah Mahfuz and Negri Sembilan Mohd Taufek have also been dismissed. Previously, when appointing the main positions such as secretary-general, publicity officers etc, there had been new people who got appointed.

There is little common ground for understanding between persons of differing principles.

The actions of the conservative faction are enough to make the open-minded faction to feel as though they do not have a standing ground within the party. This is especially the case when the conservative party leaders expressed that “the implementation of Hudud is more important than taking over Putrajaya”. This led the open-minded faction to feel that there is little common ground for understanding between persons of differing principles so they are seeking for alternatives.

Surely, if PasMa becomes a political party then it should be the home for those that left PAS. They should grow this new political party together, which is more practical than starting from scratch.

Otherwise, the alternative is to join DAP that is consistently waving its hands. This DAP that keeps publicizing to cut ties with PAS, which akin to forcing PAS to be trapped within the issues of Hudud and conservative circle so it has difficulty in turning a corner, hopes to join forces with the open-minded faction of PAS. In doing so, besides being able to strengthen its political power, it can fulfill its wish of having the colour of multi races to attract all ethnic groups to join it.

Perhaps PKR can also be the alternative political way-out for this open-minded faction. The party that has Malay as its majority would be a more suitable place for the PAS open-minded faction to continue their political life.

Certainly, if the open-minded faction intends to join forces with its alliance to take over Putrajaya then it should not be joining hands with Umno. Nevertheless, there is still the chance of mending things with PR alliances if PAS decides to retain its open-minded faction after a thorough consideration and readjustment. Just as DAP, after forcing every little officials of PAS in Penang out, has made a sharp U-turn and made the only PAS state assemblyman Salleh Man in Penang to be a member of the “people’s government” to let him to continue working on state duties. Will this move be a sign that indicates there will be a silver lining? There are indications that PR can still continue to function as it was, perhaps some political parties from Sabah and Sarawak may also join forces, further causing the opposition camp to readjust and form a new coalition? Mohamad Sabu who is going around the country showed some signs in his remark, he said that a new political coalition will be born soon. Furthermore, the DAP parliamentary leader Lim Kit Siang also said that DAP will move towards forming a new political coalition to materialise the goal of changing the government.

The two leaders’ remarks implicate that the opposition parties are already in the process of readjustment and are preparing to start again and welcome the battle of the coming election.

Original Source: 重新整合再出發