The only problem, of course, is PAS’s unenviable track record in party and coalition partnership.
It is the only mainstream party that has never stayed with any entity it has worked with. This is unlike the coalition of Parti Keadilan Rakyat, Democratic Action Party and Amanah, and the coalition involving UMNO, the Malaysian Chinese Association, the Malaysian Indian Congress and Gabungan Parti Sarawak.
PAS also has the tendency to be domineering and bulldoze its way even in situations demanding equal partnership. The party’s boycott of the Gerakan president’s campaign in the Malay-majority seat of Bayan Lepas is proof of its unwillingness to compromise and concede.
PAS CHIEF ABDUL HADI AWANG’S DESPERATION
But Abdul Hadi is a man in hurry, and his constant need to sell the “government collapse” narrative is a sign of his voters’ impatience. Throughout the August state elections, Hadi Awang told voters to choose his coalition, PN, as state government for the six states as an impetus to overthrow the federal government.
This is despite the fact that coalition compositions at the state level do not affect the federal level, or the two-thirds majority in parliament held by the federal government – the first time this has happened in 15 years – makes it unlikely for defections to succeed.
At any rate, the anti-party hopping law makes it procedurally challenging for defections to happen without legal consequences. In the end, the unity government bloc retained its three states and a collapse did not materialise.
To underscore his desperation, Abdul Hadi did the same for the recent Pulai by-election, arguing that winning one additional seat would create the momentum to change the federal government, however incredulous this is.
Source: CNA
