BN-Pas cooperation will not erode coalition’s multiracial spirit, says Mohamad

KUALA LUMPUR: Will the Barisan Nasional-Pas nexus erode the coalition’s multiracialism due to its focus on rallying the support of Malay hardliners?

BN deputy chairman Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan believes otherwise, saying the coalition’s cooperation with Pas was to look at the bigger picture, which is achieving unity of ummah.

He said the term ummah, which loosely means people, went beyond racial and cultural creeds and that BN’s multiracial policy remained.

“It (spirit of multiracialism) remains intact. The context of ummah is not confined to Malays. Ummah means community, the people, which includes nonMalays.”

Mohamad was commenting on BN secretary-general Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz’s statement yesterday, in which the latter claimed that the “spirit of multiracialism” in BN was lost following the announcement of its pact with Pas.

Mohamad said Nazri was entitled to his opinion and each BN component party had been tasked with regaining backing from its traditional supporters.

“He is free to air his opinion. Umno has to bolster the Malay support, MCA has to regain support from the Chinese, and the same goes for MIC when it comes to the Indians.”

He said the partnership with Pas was part of BN’s “mature politics” strategy.

“This is mature politics. Yes, we are the opposition, but we do not oppose everything. If (the government) does something good, we will endorse it.”

Associate Professor Dr Awang Azman Awang Pawi disagreed with Nazri, saying that the BNPas nexus was formed without a charter.

“This means Pas is not absorbed into BN or vice versa. We need to understand that the formation is purely based on the coalition’s current political requirements. It is not guided by a constitution. It does not mean that there will be a total change in BN’s policy.”

Azman said the factor that reflected multiracialism in BN was the rate of support it received from the people.

“Do MCA and MIC have the majority support of their traditional supporters? The Chinese are not supporting MCA and the Indians are not backing MIC.”

MIC vice-president Datuk T. Mohan said the party had no qualms about working with Pas.

“MIC has no issues with Pas, we can work openly with it. Pas is genuine because it has never hurled allegations at the Indian community. Pas has never told Indians to return to India.

“But some Umno leaders, like Nazri, want to be popular and dish out insensitive statements.”

MCA spokesman Chan Quin Er said issues between the BN component parties would be addressed at the coalition’s supreme council meeting tomorrow.