Absolutely powerful Umno-Pas talks

An Umno – Pas unity talk could dominate national political debate soon. All arrows are pointing towards embattled Pas President Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang and his Umno counterpart Datuk Seri Najib Razak. Something seems to be brewing.

The recent passing of Tuan Guru Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz is widely speculated to have expedited ongoing talks between leaders from both sides. It’s unclear how this marriage of convenience is being proposed.

A bigger mess looms in Barisan Nasional for none of the other component members seems to be in the know of this latest ‘unity’ stunt. Pakatan Rakyat on the other hand have no choice but to admit the leftovers who are against any such cooperation with Umno or BN.

Pakatan Rakyat’s internal spat has worsened since the infamous Kajang Move and the subsequent Selangor Mentri Besar saga. With Anwar Ibrahim lurking in Sungai Buloh and an Azmin-Wan Azizah power struggle looming in the horizon, PKR could better concentrate on their survival. Pas leaving the Pakatan pact would no longer raise too many eyebrows. DAP has been standing on its own. 

In Umno the president is so strong that we may not see even a single Umno branch or division, let alone state, leadership standing up to voice the views of the grassroots. It’s a one-way street.

Whether we like it or not, Najib is one of the strongest president Umno has had in terms of total subservience of the Umno leadership structure. It would not be far fetched to say that Najib’s position as Umno president is unassailable.

The deputy president and three vice-presidents appear ‘not ready’ for greater responsibility, or at least that is how they have been portrayed either intentionally or otherwise.

With absolute power Najib and by extension those close to him are allowed to do whatever they want. A unity talk without prior consultation or deliberations within BN could be the least of Najib’s worries at this moment. In fact such a merger with Pas could be used to help boost Najib’s waning popularity, atlas among the divided Malays.

Unity is good but trust is paramount. Would an open pact between Umno and Pas lead towards betterment of the community and society at large or would it wedge a greater divide between the races? 

What could be the reaction of the dozen other members of BN who represent almost all the other races and ethnic groups in the country? Najib may not care because even his position as the BN chairman appears unassailable. (Najib is even personally micro-managing the power struggle in MIC at the moment)

Hypothetically could a Umno-Pas pact, if it materialises, not trigger similar political pacts between MCA, Gerakan, DAP, SUPP, UPP, SAPP and other Chinese dominated political parties? Who would call whom a traitor then?

It's a precarious situation. If not handled carefully, a move in the wrong direction could possibility mark the beginning of BN's end. 

With absolute power, political expediency could override norms and convention. Whether such an expediency is sustainable is another matter altogether.  

Mystery and mysterious wheelings and dealings have become daily diet in our political scene nowadays. Let’s just wait till the clouds clear. A new political equation could very well be in the making.    

p/s Don't worry. Whatever happens, Najib Razak will remain as Umno president, BN chairman and Prime Minister as nobody has been allowed to appear good enough to replace him at the moment. Thats the picture.