The Malaysian Insight

PAS’ decision to support Barisan Nasional’s non-Muslim candidate in the Tanjung Piai by-election could end up being advantageous to Pakatan Harapan, said analysts.

BN is fielding MCA’s Wee Jeck Seng, while PH’s pick is Tg Piai Bersatu chief Karmaine Sardini, a prominent personality in the constituency who has served as imam at the local mosque and a community leader.

The about-turn by PAS, which previously said voters should support only Malay-Muslim candidates, puts a dent in the Islamist party’s credibility, said Penang Institute political researcher Nidhal Mujahid.

He said the “Malay-Muslim candidate only” stance had worked in some by-elections after last year’s 14th general election because PH fielded non-Malays.

“In the Cameron Highlands by-election, PAS urged Malay voters to support the Malay candidates because the PH candidate was Indian.”

DAP’s M. Manogaran ran for PH in the January polls.

“PH could also attack BN by using PAS’ stand on Muslim candidates to show it is inconsistent with its agenda to unite the ummah,” said Nidhal, pointing out that PAS and BN lynchpin Umno’s political collaboration is focused on Muslim unity.

Tg Piai has some 52,900 voters, 57% of whom are Malays, Chinese (42%) and Indians (1%).

Nidhal said PAS’ stand in favour of hudud will likely not go down well with non-Malay voters, adding that Wee is known to have opposed the introduction of shariah law for criminal punishment.

“Wee has, in the past, made statements that are quite critical of Islamic law and hudud punishment.”

The Tg Piai MCA head, who held the federal seat for two terms until losing in GE14, was chosen to stand for BN in the by-election after much rhetoric by the Umno grassroots that a Malay should be fielded.

PAS initially called for support to be given to a Muslim candidate, but changed its position after BN announced that it will go with Wee.

Another political analyst, Mazlan Ali, shared Nidhal’s view that PAS’ move to support a non-Malay candidate could hurt the party’s credibility.

He said social media users have highlighted statements by top PAS leaders urging people to vote for the Malay-Muslim candidates in previous by-elections.

Its president, Abdul Hadi Awang, had once said it was a religious obligation to vote for a Muslim candidate as giving power to a non-Muslim was haram (forbidden).

“PAS has always said power should be given to the Muslim candidate. PH will now use this issue against the party,” said Mazlan.

He added that PAS members and supporters might face a dilemma: should they vote for Wee, since their party is an ally of BN, or PH’s Karmaine, who is a Muslim?

The 66-year-old Bersatu man last year stood as a candidate in Pontian, but lost.

However, said Mazlan, he is well-respected as an imam and a community leader.

“With BN fielding an MCA candidate, I see an advantage for PH,” said the Universiti Teknologi Malaysia lecturer.

For Universiti Malaya’s Awang Azman Awang Pawi, PAS’ quick change of position shows that it is a political party, and not a true religious authority.

“It is a political party that uses the name of Islam. Its decisions are based on current interests.

“If it were a religious body, it would not be so dynamic, and would have to abide by religious laws, which are fixed.”

Despite PAS’ flip-flop, it is not impossible for BN to justify to voters its collaboration with the Islamists.

The BN machinery would have to find a narrative acceptable to the grassroots to secure support for Wee. It would need to explain the unity charter signed by Umno and PAS on September 14, and convince people that the pact includes cooperation between the different races and religions.

“BN should take this opportunity to prove that it is still relevant, and not be too dependent on Malay voters. They should win the hearts of the Chinese,” said Awang Azman.

“BN should explain to Chinese voters that the pact with PAS is also about cooperating with other ethnic groups and parties.”

If BN and PAS were to play dirty, they could still lure Muslim voters away from Karmaine by using their favourite bogeyman, DAP, and accuse the Chinese-dominated party of being anti-Islam and anti-Malay.

“PAS may be able to depict MCA as being less harmful than DAP, which has been depicted as a party attacking the sovereignty of Malay-Muslims,” said Nidhal.

Besides Wee and Karmaine, others who have stated their intention to run in the Tg Piai race are Gerakan deputy secretary-general Wendy Subramaniam and Shamsubahrin Ismail, the candidate for Gabungan Teksi SeMalaysia.

A candidate from Barisan Jemaah Islamiah Se-Malaysia, too, is expected to contest, making it likely a five-cornered fight.

Nominations will be filed today, and polling is set for November 16.

The by-election was called following the death of Bersatu’s Dr Md Farid Md Rafik, who won the seat in GE14 by just 524 votes, marking the first time BN has lost Tg Piai. – November 2, 2019.