Vice Versa? I don't think so ...

"Right now we're sipping from a poisoned chalice:
a flawed democracy laced with religious fascism. Pure arsenic.
What shall we do? What can we do?
We have a ruling party that's haemorrhaging”.
~ (Arundhati Roy, Democracy and Religious Fascism)

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In his latest post- Drawing the Political Lines - a PAS-UMNO role reversal, Art Harun had implied that PAS has taken on Umno's old image/role. He said, "In 2010 Malaysia, it would appear that PAS and UMNO has rebooted and in drawing their respective political lines, they have exchanged their respective political role."

IMHO, what he says is true - but only up to a certain point, though.

The thing here, is this- PAS HAS NOT taken on Umno's earlier role of liberalism - it is only flirting with it at present. They have yet to come out openly and declare that they would support the Federal Constitution (as it is) - as the supreme law of Malaysia. They have only ceased from campaigning on that platform (of the (Islamic State"). Meanwhile, Umno has abandoned its old "sophisticated" skin for that of the "heartlanders'" Islamist stance- and capitalize on PAS's cold feet when challenging whatever is deemed "Islamic" by convention (even if there isn't a shred of evidence to attest to that).

PAS today, is the "accidental hero" - even if the "Erdogan" faction is sincere about their intentions. They're no different from the Umno, MIC, MCA trio (or even Hindraf, for that matter) in its sectarian agenda. It just so happens that PAS has been pushed to the stage of national politics in a big way, through the non-Muslim votes along the west coast in the ABU (Anything But Umno) campaign of the 12th GE. By no means did they actually earn the trust of their voters.
The reality is- PAS is still run by the ulamak faction which practices "kampung" politics to cater to the rural folk who do not see how the Islamic State agenda will spell doom for the country - and possibly, even the end of the federation at large. They still operate on the premise that secular humanism runs contrary to Islamic values/principles - when the evidence to the contrary abounds.

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"The society which scorns excellence in plumbing as a humble activity,
and tolerates shoddiness in philosophy because it is an exalted activity,
will have neither good plumbing nor good philosophy:
neither its pipes nor its theories will hold water."
- John W. Gardner
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The Ulamak faction of PAS risks losing all that they stood for (at least in the eyes of their unthinking minions), should they take on the "liberalist" image - and so losing their core rural vote bank who apparently have nothing to lose. This is simply because this simplistic vote bank which PAS caters to, cannot see how a "clean-shaven man in a suit" can stand for Islam - better than a man in a turban & goatee.

Umno knows this very well, and is pushing this faction into taking on the Islamist agenda with greater fervor, so as to fracture the PR alliance - and Hadi isn't doing a very good job at convincing the electorate of his support for a plural society. He evokes more distrust than confidence with his flip-flopping actions. They also often refrain from opposing acts "deemed Islamic", even if it has subverted the supreme laws of the land - the Federal Constitution. In the meantime the so-called "liberalists" in PAS are struggling to play both sides of the fence by branding themselves as "Islamist democrats". If that isn't a no-brainer, I don't know what is - just how does an "Islamist" become a democrat, while championing the destruction of democracy & secular humanism.

My take on this current scenario is simply this - Umno is gonna push PAS even harder to the brink of fracturing not just PR, but also the party from within. They will intensify their attacks on the so-called "Erdogans" like Khalid & Dzul, (whose Islamist and democrat credentials will be ripped to shreds on both sides of the political fence) through their increased "moral policing", primitive syariah sentencing & the siege-mentality propaganda.
Once this faction is out of the way, PAS would be chicken-feed to handle - and the PR alliance would be history.

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“Only a class based movement not based on ethnicity and religion can truly built a nation without discrimination, race based corruption and race based politics. The ruling party would be able to rule and would continue to rule as long as the people are divided.
The ruling party is not going to build a united Malaysian Nation, as it is not going to work to its advantage.The Opposition too have at many occasions being sucked into the same mode to win support of the people.
The future of Malaysia can go two ways – Race and Religious Politics which is the rule of the day versus Class based politics – cutting across race and religion lines. It is a serious question as race and religious politics with its history and conditioning remain the most effective way to mobilise the racially divided people. It is a question every person has to ask and ponder. It is a question which is going to continue to haunt us.”
-Setiausaha Agung, Parti Sosialis Malaysia

P.S.

If chance be the Father of all flesh,
disaster is his rainbow in the sky
and when you hear -
Death to Infidels!!
State of Emergency!
Sniper Kills Ten!
Troops on Rampage!
Rempits go Looting!
Bomb Blasts church/temple!
It is but the sound of our skullcapped Jihadi
in his robes and turban,
worshiping his maker.