NOVEMBER 10 — It has been more than a year since the collapse of Pakatan Rakyat (PR) on the issue of the introduction of hudud laws in Malaysia. 

Nothing in the actions of Parti Islam Se-Malaysia (PAS) since has suggested anything than a desire for a clean, permanent break with the Democratic Action party (DAP), and a refusal to consider participating in Pakatan Harapan (PH) as long as DAP is part of that coalition.

Its increasing closeness to Umno is out in the open with its refusal in Parliament to act in concert with the Opposition and the ruling coalition facilitating the introduction of its hudud bill for debate above government business in the last session of Parliament.

In this context, it would seem to be fair to assume that the Opposition would cut all ties with their former allies in PAS and begin to take steps to prepare for the next General Election (GE) assuming that PAS is now for all intents and purposes a part of Barisan Nasional (BN).

None of that has happened. The twin losses for PR in the three-cornered fights in the last two by-elections sent jitters through the ranks of sitting Opposition MPs and assemblymen alike. The electoral maths seemed to indicate that PAS could play spoiler in a large number of constituencies by putting up its own candidates, indirectly helping BN retain its grip on federal power in the next GE.

So despite the official end of PR, we have witnessed the uncomfortable spectacle of the Selangor government running with the ex-coalition partners on the same side because of an uneasy truce brokered by the Mentri Besar (MB). While Mahathir Mohamad, Muhyiddin Yassin and Anwar Ibrahim have all made noises about finding a way to ensure straight fights in the next GE, all are silent on how to achieve it in the absence of any co-operation between DAP and PAS.

The simple fact is that all this dithering is projecting an image of PH and the newly-minted PPBM of Mahathir as being no different than the politicians from the other side who they constantly accuse of being self-serving. 

Despite PAS making its position abundantly clear on numerous occasions, there is something pathetic about watching the depths Opposition politicians are going to plead with their former colleagues.

Quite apart from the abandonment of their so called Common Policy Framework (CPF) to save their political future, PH leaders are also seemingly at ease with the current closeness of PAS with Umno, as long as PAS voters are not asked to vote for Umno.

What they do not realise is that the whole country is watching their shenanigans. With their current approach, they may retain some PAS votes in the next GE, but are sure to surrender possibly a larger number of traditional Opposition supporters, disgusted with their pandering to a party openly aligning with their perceived enemy, Umno.

Simply put, they cannot have their cake and eat it too. They cannot oppose PAS on principle, and still hope for two-cornered fights. They cannot oppose BN policies in Parliament and stay silent on PAS’ abstentions. They cannot rail against the hudud push of PAS, and then campaign for their candidates in the elections.

If they are genuine in their commitment to an alternative vision for the country based on their CPF, separation of state and religion, the rule of law and decentralisation of powers, they need to demonstrate this leadership now or risk losing the election even before it is announced. 

PH needs to cut all ties with PAS now, clearly recognise and position PAS as part of BN, and treat them accordingly. Potentially this can accomplish a few things. It re-emphasises the clear policy differences between PH and BN, it repositions PH as a coalition of principles in contrast to showing the Umno-PAS alliance as opportunistic, and provides much needed clarity to the choice before the electorate.

As for their fear of three-cornered fights, if every voter knows that a vote for PAS is a vote for BN, it forces a vote of conscience for all traditional PAS supporters and forces BN component party supporters to re-evaluate their support, given the nature of the Umno-PAS alliance.

At the very least, it prevents reducing the next election to irrelevance, in terms of electoral or policy change. ABU today is a pipe dream, ABUP might be a plan.

* This is the personal opinion of the columnist.