Talk of Barisan-PAS pact in T’ganu

The choice of candidates by both parties is said to be evidence of this agreement, with Pakatan appearing to have made little impact in the East Coast state.

AN electoral campaign is transpiring in Terengganu that is unlike any we have seen in the southern states of the peninsula.

The battle here is almost exclusively between Barisan Nasional and PAS, as Pakatan Harapan appears to have made very few inroads into this state.

The state abounds with talk about political intrigue involving an alliance between PAS and Barisan. This pact is apparently to bolster PAS’ attempt to secure control of the state government, with Barisan facing a less strenuous battle to win the majority of parliamentary seats.

The choice of candidates fielded by both parties is said to be evidence of this agreement.

Another indicator of this pact is that PAS is contesting about 160 parliamentary seats even though the party has little chance of winning, even by its own admission, a fifth of them.

PAS members are, however, adamant that no such pact is in place, dismissing such chatter as a fictional depiction of the conduct of politics in a state where Pakatan has no hope of securing any parliamentary or state seat.

PAS further argues that talk of a Barisan-PAS alliance is an attempt by Pakatan to ensure that GE14 remains a straight fight between them and the ruling coalition.

PAS members also assert that they are contesting such a large number of parliamentary seats because the decision was made by members at the ground level and not by the national leadership.

Since members in these constitu- encies are confident of securing victory, the PAS leadership felt it could not stand in their way. Realistically though, PAS agrees that it can win only 15 to 20 parliamentary seats in Kelantan, Terengganu, Kedah, Perak and Selangor.

The party further contends that enough has been done to win two state governments, Kelantan and Terengganu, though it remains fairly confident of also taking control of Kedah.

Contributing to the intriguing nature of Terengganu politics are the implications of the significant changes of post-2013 PAS.

PAS has had to deal with a serious political rupture that has culminated in the formation of a new Malay party, Parti Amanah Negara, led by prominent ex-leaders.

PAS has since severed ties with Opposition parties, resulting in the emergence of many three-cornered fights in GE14, including with Amanah.

Another major change in PAS is related to the demise of its extremely influential and deeply respected Datuk Nik Aziz Nik Mat, the once long-standing mentri besar of Kelantan.

He was seen as a moderating voice in PAS and his demise was reputedly the cause of the deep schism that subsequently emerged in the party.

Amanah members argue that, unlike PAS, what they are articulating is Nik Aziz’s call for an inclusive Islam, a form of governance that includes non-Muslims and where every Malaysian citizen is accorded equal rights.

Interestingly, in its GE14 campaign, PAS has adopted a “soft” approach in Terengganu. The party’s focus is on policies that will foster infrastructure development, with emphasis on agriculture and the promotion of rural industries, sectors that will directly impact the economically disenfranchised constituents.

PAS also plans to introduce a kerajaan teknokrat (technocratic government) to implement its initiatives. This soft approach involves little talk of Islam.

PAS has also made much of its nomination of a new breed of highly educated young professionals unlike Barisan, which is fielding what PAS refers to as “old faces”.

This new breed of PAS politicians, who will lead the state government if it gets to form after the general election, will not replicate mistakes made in the recent past, when PAS was not able to hold on to the state government in Terengganu – and Kedah – after just one term in office.

Just as important is the fact that PAS leader Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang, who served as Terengganu mentri besar for one term between 1999 and 2004, is not contesting a state seat, presumably to further convince the electorate that he will not be returning to lead the Terengganu government.

PAS argues that its soft approach resonates with Malay culture, involving the need to be subtle in the conduct of its politics.

This approach does not involve discussing issues such as high-level corruption. There will be no naming and shaming of corrupt politicians. Indeed, there is little in PAS’ election paraphernalia about these issues.

While this method may not help PAS win over fence-sitters, the party sees it as a good way to gain the support of Umno members who are disgruntled with their leadership.

Umno, like PAS, has been subjected to a serious political fracture, leading to the emergence of a new party, Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia. Indeed, PAS thinks it can get the support of as much as 20% of Umno members in Terengganu, aided also by what seems to be a still serious factional dispute within the party.

For all the talk of a Barisan-PAS pact, a very real battle for the hearts and minds of the electorate is emerging in Terengganu. This battle, which could go either way, and the nature of the PAS campaign suggests that what has occurred is not so much a pact, but a détente between opposing parties.

Indeed, Umno has voiced no public criticism of Hadi while actively taking to task Pakatan’s leader, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

Interestingly, this soft approach by PAS appears strikingly identical to what Amanah is advocating, involving Nik Aziz’s inclusive stance to draw non-Muslim support.

By taking on a message which resembles that of Amanah’s, this comes across as a tactic by PAS to neuter the impact of its breakaway party on the political landscape.

This détente may also serve to remove the presence, at least in the East Coast, of Dr Mahathir’s party, Pribumi.

However, even PAS recognises that its soft approach, as well as a technocratic form of governance, is an electoral gamble that could backfire badly on them. This détente may well result in PAS allowing Barisan to retain control of the Terengganu state government.

A very real battle for the hearts and minds of the electorate is emerging in Terengganu.