DID nearly four million voters choose the Pakatan Rakyat alliance (Pas-PKR-DAP) because finally a US-style two-party election fight was a reality? What about Angkatan Perpaduan Ummah and Gagasan Rakyat back in the 1990s? Apart from the BN losing Kelantan, was there any other tsunami-like effect elsewhere then?

BN’s record performance in the 2004 general election had actually continued right until the Pengkalan Pasir, Machap and Ijok by-elections in April last year, based on their respective winning majorities.

Therefore, to state that BN had gone from best to worst in four years would be inaccurate. The dramatic drop in support started post-Ijok. In less than 12 months, Malaysians became wary of Umno and any party affiliated to it, particularly if they were 40 or below and Chinese or Indian lower-middle income earners.

The DAP did not participate in the Pengkalan Pasir and Ijok by-elections and Pas was only a bystander in Machap. Therefore, it was the Pas-PKR-DAP collaboration which was assembled in haste (and perhaps desperation), not the possible Pas-Umno reunion, which is widely known to be a long-standing proposal.

Is it really a cardinal sin for Pas to engage in talks with Umno? Why should it be said that “money and power” are luring them? Pas, which was once with BN, has more things in common with Umno than with PKR or DAP. The so-called “risk of losing credibility for linking with BN and Umno” is somewhat over-rated compared with being up in arms with a republican party with an antipathy towards Malay rights.

While the Malay anger towards Umno was shown on March 8, their concern over the deep rift within their own community is also too palpable to ignore as shown by the numerous forums organised by Malay-based non-governmental organisations. A true non-partisan Malay who is concerned about the fate of his future generations would welcome any progressive negotiations in a positive way.

DR FAIZAL TAJUDDIN, Kuala Lumpur

Source: NST – July 25, 2008