Bersatu In Mn The Good Bad And Ugly

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WHEN Zahid Hamidi issued a statement last week about the possibility of Bersatu joining Muafakat Nasional, it triggers many reactions, some in support of the idea while not few lambasting it as a bad political strategy.
PM Muhyiddin Yassin had denied it but what Zahid insinuated might contain some truths. The Bersatu chairman could have retracted his intention to Zahid after getting ridiculed by his party members for that hint

Whatever it is, I summarised three things to happen should Bersatu joins UMNO and PAS in Muafakat Nasional - the good, bad and ugly sides of it

First, the GOOD FACTOR - if Bersatu is accepted, Muafakat Nasional will be strengthened, making it a formidable political force in the country. The Malays and Muslims will be united under one entity, and there is no way for others to dominate the political landscape. Not even DAP, Amanah or PKR

It will be impossible for PKR to join force as it is a multi-racial party. So, it will remain Opposition, and for that reason Anwar Ibrahim cannot leave out DAP to form a government. At this particular juncture, they are out, maybe for good

Having Bersatu in Muafakat Nasional will also mean a 'close door' situation for others to erect a central government. At state level, MN will find an easy passage in each and every general election. There won't be much difficulty either since the three are solid in one cooperation

This will automatically shut the door to any other parties to repeat what Pakatan Harapan had done, unless under a fluke condition

Second, the BAD FACTOR - a new era of warlords to recur. I can reassure you that things will get worse. With the high-ranking Bersatu officials, Muafakat Nasional will have to open up new tables for those power-craze leaders, especially the ones who are already in the present Cabinet

Like it or not, this will add to the displeasure of MN grassroots leaders and members. With so many heads, UMNO and PAS will find it more difficult to manoeuvre the pact, let alone attending to chronic personalities with different political aptitude

Muafakat Nasional will also face the wrath of discontented UMNO and PAS members, and maybe some leaders too since they have to make way to Bersatu office-bearers. Comments of the social media suggest a NO as the answer to Muhyiddin's idea

This means, UMNO and PAS might lose more members should Muafakat Nasional accepts Bersatu as its new member. On the contrary, Barisan Nasional will be in tight political situation as MCA and MIC can consider being sidelined

Third, the UGLY FACTOR - well, this is imminent. To deny it is akin to committing suicide

Everybody knows how Muhyiddin was sacked in 2015 by Najib Razak, and how he had said many times that coming back to UMNO is impossible, and how disgusted he was with the party. Although his relationship with most UMNO leaders can be described as 'cordial', I believe he still harbors the ill-feeling towards the nation's biggest political party

'Coming back' to UMNO will be translated as being chummy with the party again through Muafakat Nasional. He won't join UMNO again but the fact that accepting Bersatu into MN can be equated as being in UMNO again, right

And of course he wants a senior seat in MN, not just an ordinary member or among the high-ranking officials. As a prime minister, he might opt for a chair person, similar to his position in Bersatu now that made him a premier

Then, come the 16 'katak' (frogs) who deserted UMNO after the defeat in GE14. How will they be treated? Zahid will be seen as a weak leader should he allows some of then to defend the seats in the next general election when UMNO had avowed many times that those seats were theirs

Bersatu cannot stand alone. The only reason it got more than 13 seats after GE14 was party hopping by UMNO Members of Parliament (MPs). Should GE is held again, Muhyiddin's camp will not pose any danger to MN, knowing how his grassroots machinery is

Bersatu survival depends solely on its allies in Perikatan Nasional. Since general election is anticipated soon, he is left to no choice but to consider joing Muafakat Nasional or even Barisan Nasional. Either way is not practical but the second option looks safer and viable

So, my take is joining Muafakat Nasional will bring many problems to UMNO and PAS. As at now, it is not advisable, unless a miracle happens to Perikatan Nasional. Muhyiddin still have to iron out some major obstacle with regards to his position as a PM

Will MN Committee take a drastic move to accept Bersatu? Leave it to Zahid and Hadi Awang's wisdom. All that I know, most UMNO and PAS members are against it

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