The Politics of the Unity Government

The subject of forming a unity government is a hot topic discussed by the majority of people who are interested in this proposal, naively thinking this will reduce the political bickering that is ongoing in our country, well allow me to rebuke such claim, that lurking around the corner, this concept is filled with politics that will lead to more bickering.

Let's discuss, firstly, should PAS decides to join this unity government, what will be the position of it's party president Datuk Seri Hadi Awang, in the 70's, when PAS joined BN the then President Asri Muda was given the ministerial post of Minister of Land, so of course there will be something in store for the President. What will PAS demand be for their President, well if I'm Hadi I will ask for a senior position in the cabinet or at least the post of Minister in the Prime Minister's Department in charge of religious affair. That way I can use my power to strenghten PAS by implementing policies in line with PAS aspiration to turn Malaysia into an Islamic state. I wonder what the MCA,MIC and other BN component parties will think of that, there will be of course bickering between them and PAS.

Then, there is the business of kicking out or controlling those people within PAS that are against the idea of the unity government, names such as the PAS spiritual adviser Dato Nik Abdul Aziz and his faithful supporters. I doubt that Nik Aziz is just going to keep quite if PAS is to join BN, therefore there will be politicking between the pro-UMNO and pro-Pakatan within PAS, and should the merger occurs, then this faction will be absorbed in BN, thus making it a BN problem. The bickering will of course escalate.

Finally, imagine the giving out of government contracts, of course PAS wants some of them for their supporters. But how about the BN and UMNO contract beneficiary, do you think that they will just sit silently as this outsiders siphoned away their wealth, of course not. There will be more bickering, and what's worst is that BN will be powerful with the inclusion of PAS thus making in harder for PKR and DAP to initiate the check and balance necessary to keep tab on government wastage and inefficiency.

As noted above, the unity government is anything but the end of political bickering therefore it should not exceed discussions on the pressing issues face by the government that PAS is best suited to contribute. Anything more than that will spell disaster for all parties involved and it is the rakyat that will suffer the most eventually. Therefore it is important for all parties to really do their homework before moving foward on this promosing at the same time dangerous proposal for a unity government.