Let PAS join BN so we can move on

By TK Chua

This is exactly the kind of baloney that we the people are fed up with. Negotiations with PAS on what, if I may ask Amanah deputy president Salahuddin Ayub.

I am referring to his observation that the two by-election results of Sungai Besar and Kuala Kangsar are indication that the people want Pakatan Harapan to be strong and thus the coalition should open to inviting PAS back to the negotiating table.

Similarly, it is quite fruitless to argue that PKR deputy president, Azmin Ali, was right to continue engaging with PAS.

I would prefer for BN to continue governing the country rather than to engage in meaningless and hapless negotiations with PAS which will only hurt the opposition cause further. What can we achieve from the negotiation? The same old vague arrangement of “agreeing to disagree”?

Pakatan Harapan is weak because it lacks firm principles. It wants to have its cake and eat it, too. It’s time for the coalition to stand firmly on its ideals and ideologies. Being vague is no longer an option.

Malaysia must look beyond the domination of one race, religion or culture in our everyday life. Given our circumstances, resorting to parochialism and religious bigotry may seem to be the most expedient thing to do. But we know in our hearts it will eventually lead this country nowhere.

The world has provided us sufficient evidence to learn from. Religious bigotry and racism are so archaic and so out of tune with the present time. We pursue them only at our own peril.

It is time true leaders plays their role – to educate and enlighten the people, prevent them from continue falling victim to racism, parochialism and bigotry.Time to forge a cosmopolitan and inclusive Malaysia.

Never mind that such a goal will bring temporary setbacks. Never mind that too many of our people are indoctrinated with ideologies contrary to openness and inclusiveness. Leadership means is to bring the people back to the right path, not to accentuate stupidity and bigotry.

A core group of Malay leaders from within Pakatan must emerge to take the lead with true leadership, not by trying to outdo BN to see whose keris is longer or who is more jingoistic, more religious and more ridiculous.

Pakatan’s strength in its heyday was its inclusiveness, humanity and equalitarianism. We are only half way through. Please don’t turn back to archaic parochialism the moment we face challenges. Let PAS join Umno-BN, for this is where it belongs.

TK Chua is an FMT reader.

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