Before the existence of the coalition of the three parties in Pakatan Rakyat, each party had their own policy struggles. A policy championed by PAS is Islam with its call of ‘Allahu Akbar’. PAS’ highest law is the Book of Allah (Quran) and Sunnah and ljmak and Qias that are clear and realistic.
The People’s Justice Party (PKR) is based on the same commitment to reform against injustice and abuse of power. DAP is famous for its concept of ‘Malaysian Malaysia’ (Malaysia for all Malaysians). The parties are committed to the struggle for an independent Malaysian Malaysia, elements of democratic socialism, based on the principles of human rights, equality, social and economic justice, and based on the institution of parliamentary democracy.
Pakatan is a combination of the People’s Justice Party (PKR), Democratic Action Party (DAP) and the Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party (PAS). The establishment of the Pakatan Rakyat started on April 1, 2008 following a wave of reforms of the people in the 12th general election on March 8, 2008.
PKR, DAP and PAS made history by winning four state governments in addition to the PAS-led Kelantan since 1990, and also denied Barisan Nasional their two-thirds majority in the Parliament of Malaysia.
Pakatan Rakyat’s first convention was held on December 19, 2009 in Shah Alam. At this event, Pakatan’s common policy was launched, touching on four main elements:
- Transparent and genuine democracy,
- Accelerating high-performance, sustainable and fair economy,
- Social justice and human development,
- Federal-state relations and foreign policy.
Agreeing to disagree on a matter should be respected by any parties in Pakatan so that the main goal of toppling the BN government is achieved without compromising their own policy struggles. The main purpose of the combination of the three parties in Pakatan is to replace the government of Umno and BN which has ruled Malaysia all this while.
Among the hot issues that caused DAP to leave Pakatan in Sarawak is the hudud issue. This has become a main reason why DAP rejects cooperation with PAS in Sarawak. However, they know that Islam is a minority religion in Sarawak, and there is no issue regarding the implementation of hudud law in Sarawak. Why do Sarawak DAP leaders have to insist that their coalition partner PKR has to go with them to leave PAS because of hudud?
Knowing the reality of the position of Muslims in Sarawak
In the context of Sarawak it is difficult to carry out the implementation of hudud law even if Pakatan were to win in Sarawak because PAS and Muslims are a minority in Sarawak. What is perplexing is that, why must Sarawak DAP insist that PAS not support hudud? They should know better the reality of the position of Muslims in Sarawak without coming up with an issue that is not relevant to the people of Sarawak.
What exactly is the main agenda of Sarawak DAP? Are they feeling that they are already strong, that they do not have to join any party, and that they can compete in all the seats in the state without the need to negotiate with any of their fellow component parties in Sarawak? Prove that they able to dominate all the seats they are contesting without the cooperation of Pakatan as before.
Now Sarawak DAP leaders insists that PKR together with them leave PAS, merely to satisfy the desires of DAP. Do DAP leader think they can lead anyone to follow their desires that could affect the policy struggles of each party?
DAP should realise they have managed to rule Penang for more than one term by not showing their power by directing friends in Pakatan to follow only their instructions and their will. Each party in the Pakatan coalition reserves the right to implement its own policies without affecting the will of the people to change the current BN government for the better.
Without the combination of Pakatan, DAP definitely cannot rule Penang again because they will lose the state through their snobbery and arrogance. The hudud issue should not be a major issue that could cause a split in Pakatan, but instead we have to respect each party’s policy struggles if we want Pakatan to be seen as an alternative new government in the future.
The insistence of Sarawak DAP to PKR and Sarawak PAS indeed irrational. We hope PKR can judge for themselves the demands of Sarawak DAP if they still want to see Sarawak Pakatan move forward as a future alternative government in the state. Pakatan will be reunited with the conditions that all parties in Pakatan can accept their policy struggles and respect each other’s opinion, agree to disagree on certain things and not attack each other.
We leave it to the judgment of each party to decide the fate of Pakatan because people want to see a strong government as an alternative that can provide prosperity and justice for all people regardless of race and religion. Remember the main political enemy of Pakatan is Umno/BN.
JOFRI JARAIEE is Sarawak PAS deputy commissioner iii-cum-Miri PAS chief.