LETTER | PAS to join the coalition government?

LETTER | After weeks of news reports spreading about an upcoming cabinet reshuffle, Malaysians are shocked by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s remark of offering an olive branch to PAS to join the coalition government during his interview with Time.

Political analysts and even ordinary folks around the country have speculated and polled on how would and should the new cabinet lineup look like only to receive a strong hit in their faces.

The cabinet reshuffle mulled thus far is most probably to open up space for PAS leaders, instead of restructuring the current governing team.

Nevertheless, this is not a new proposal. In May, veteran DAP leader Lim Kit Siang has already called upon PAS to join the government.

I have to admit that I was angry when I first saw Lim’s remark. The once noble leader has now also fallen into the realms of hypocrisy and desperation, sacrificing principles for surface-level stability.

However, when I read Anwar’s remark, I suddenly saw the political rationale behind the olive branch.

I bet all of us still remember how former prime minister Muhyiddin Yassin sliced Umno into pieces via the appointment of Ismail Sabri as his deputy weeks before his administration collapsed.

This move had successfully created a pro-Perikatan Nasional faction in Umno which still remains intact even today.

Anwar’s olive branch to PAS could yield the same impact. He is only inviting PAS as an individual party to join the government instead of the whole PN coalition.

If PAS leaders fail to resist the lure of power and grab hands with the government, the current structure of PN will be heavily damaged.

Bersatu’s relationship with PAS would rupture as the latter would be seen as a traitor.

This could strengthen Anwar’s majority and weaken the opposition in Parliament.

In terms of numbers, Anwar could steer his administration back to BN’s peak days.

Outside of Parliament, the participation of PAS could bring the coalition government more Malay votes that they desperately need.

While non-Malays may be furious, Anwar knows clearly that non-Malays would only either abstain from voting or vote for him.

Both of these decisions could not affect Anwar’s chances of winning the election when he holds a majority of Malay votes after PAS joins his administration.

Therefore, though it seems weird for Anwar to offer an olive branch to PAS, it is all politically justified. After all, even long-time nemeses Pakatan Harapan and BN could now work together, why not the coalition government and PAS?

But don’t get me wrong. As a Malaysian, I won’t support PAS joining the government, as it would mean that they do not necessarily need to care for minorities anymore.

Non-Malays, sadly to say, hold too little determining power to shift the political structure of this country.

Furthermore, the return of the government’s numbers to BN’s glorious era is not laudable.

In the past, BN had abused such a majority to pass draconian laws and establish systemic corruption which is extremely difficult to be eliminated now.

No one can guarantee that Anwar would not do the same when he holds the same majority.

A cabinet reshuffle is necessary to deal with the current liabilities within the government, but letting PAS in is certainly not sustainable in the long run of the nation.

The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of Malaysiakini.