UMNO AND PAS ASSEMBLIES END OF THE YEAR MAY CHART A NEW POLITICAL PATH

Umno and PAS general assemblies to held before end of the year are expected to be the focus of all Malaysians as the leadership line-up chosen and resolutions adopted may chart a new chapter in the country’s political path.

 

Both the parties may delve deeper on the unity government in the debates of the respective assemblies as they find similarities that can tie them up against the changed political landscape that saw a racial divide.

 

Umno and PAS will hold party elections while the assemblies are expected to debate on the Malay unity – a subject that may dominate the assemblies following nthe racial divide as reflected in the recently concluded 13^th general election.

 

While Umno poll is expected maintain the top two leaders – Mohd Najib Tun Abdul Razak and Muhyiddin Yassin for president and deputy president respectively – PAS is expected to have a change from deputy president downwards given the open split between the veteran fundamentalists and so-called Anwar Ibrahim’s men in the party.

 

Besides the elections of leaders, the subject expected to be hotly debated will be on Malay Unity and the proposed unity government that was propagated in 2008 by expelled PAS leader Dr Hassan Ali and Nasharuddin Mat Isa.

 

Both the parties – Umno and PAS – are expected to delve on the subject deeper as PAS soften its stand in the wake of the ‘anger’ shown by Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) that blamed it for the bad showing in the general election.

 

And the PAS leaders who are fundamentalists such as the Ulamak Council head Dr Harun  Taib, Kelantan Mentri Besar Ahmad Yakub dan deputy youth chief who is the son of the party spiritual leader Nik Abduh Nik Aziz, are oppose to the rallies held practically every week by Anwar opposing the general election results.

 

Umno’s election is expected to be a mild affair even with the new voting system where some 146,500-odd members will be voting the office bearers as the party begins to strengthen its position in the ‘new divided political landscape’.

 

Given the reality of the political environment where Umno is the only party in the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN), Umno members seem to have resolved that the present party president and deputy should be allowed to continue pursuing the party’s and country’s vision without disturbances.

 

Members may resolve to strengthen the position of the party leaders that further strengthen the position of Umno in the ruling coalition given the other parties – with exception of Parti Pesaka Bersatu Sarawak – are not in ‘good health’ with two or three parties in dire straits.

 

However, PAS is expected to be in a turbulence state as the split widens in Kelantan that goes right up to national level where party deputy president Mohamed Sabu or Mat Sabu is expected to be challenged by someone from the fundamentalists.

 

It will not be surprising if former deputy president Nasharuddin may be fielded again to lend support to the fundamentalists against the onslaught of Anwar’s men.

 

Mat Sabu and gang like Husam Musa and few others in the central committee may ‘go for broke’ this time around as they have lost control of the party when they failed to steer the party to the needs of Pakatan Rakyat (PR) especially on Islamic matters.

 

The subject has been the contention of ‘bad blood’ between the party and DAP with each putting its foot down such as the Islamic state and Hudud laws and the use of the word Allah for 

Christians.