‘UMNO’S SUCCESS DEPENDS ON LEADERS’
Umno-Pas pact may work, but will not help Umno return to its former glory, say experts
THE Umno-Pas pact will not return Umno to its former glory although it may gain support from the people. Universiti Putra Malaysia political analyst Professor Dr Jayum Jawan said although Umno could gain mileage through the pact, such an outcome would depend on the wisdom of its party leaders.
“Umno may make a comeback, but it will not return to its former glory.
“This is because the party is committing itself to a pact, but standing in a weakened position.
“It is possible that the pact will only showcase (Umno’s) desperation and desire to find a shortcut to power.
“Such a situation or an outcome will be the same if Umno chooses to work with other parties, not just Pas,” he said yesterday.
Universiti Malaya’s Associate Professor Dr Awang Azman Awang Pawi said it would be better if such a cooperation excluded the involvement of MIC and MCA.
“MCA has already distanced itself from Umno, which it regards as a baggage that weighs down its rejuvenation efforts.
“Umno, too, does not feel the need to have MCA around since the latter has only one parliamentary seat and with it, offers no political bargaining chip.
“As for MIC, it won only two parliamentary seats, which means that it is not ready to work with other parties outside Barisan Nasional.
“Both MCA and MIC hold no bargaining power against Umno, which has 54 parliamentary seats.
“I foresee that BN will be gone from the country’s political radar if Umno is the only party with the majority of seats in the coalition.”
Geostrategical expert Associate Professor Dr Azmi Hassan said Umno-Pas pact could change the country’s political landscape.
“It is clear that in the 14th General Election, almost 75 per cent of Malay votes went to both parties.”
Analyst Professor Dr Sivamurugan Pandian said the presence of Umno president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi at Pas’ 64th Muktamar on Saturday showed efforts by both parties to materialise their pact.
“This is not the first time both parties were committed to a cause. They used to work together in 1974 to 1978.
“The cooperation should not be done hastily as it needs party members’ views and input to prevent it from being shortlived.”
Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Ethnic Studies Institute deputy director Associate Professor Dr Kartini Aboo Talib@Khalid believed that the Umno-Pas pact would garner the Malays’ support and be politically significant.
“It must be remembered that the population majority is held by the Malays because Umno has the biggest share of parliamentary seats.”