SERIOUS CRACKS IN PAKATAN?

LEADERS of Pakatan Rakyat may appear to be seen together some of the times. But, a close scrutiny of the loose coalition appears to show serious cracks rearing their ugly heads.

Almost daily now, there appears to be major differences cropping up in the Pakatan-ruled States. Kelantan, Selangor, Penang and even Kedah. State leaders appeared at odds with each other. They may be a coalition as portrayed in public, but neither party leaders are ready to listen to the others. Agreement reached even at national level are always in need of amendments. The most classic is, of course, who is to be the Prime Minister.

Earlier, the choice was Anwar. DAP, PKR and PAS were seen unanimous in this this. But, lately, this is no longer true. PAS, suddenly, it not ready to agree. At the last PAS general assembly, the party wanted its president Hadi to be the Prime Minister. Even after DAP general assembly confirmed Anwar as their choice of Prime Minister recently, PAS secretary general Mustapa was quoted as saying that PAS did not feel it was right to decide on the matter now.

In Selangor, we saw Hassan Ali being booted out of the State Exco line-up after he openly showed his disagreement with DAP and PKR State leaders. Hassan was sacked from PAS, and this did not augurs well with his supporters not just in Selangor but the rest of the country. Many of them were unhappy that PAS central committee were quick to sack Hassan to appease DAP and PKR even though Hassan was in the right

In Kelantan, PAS leaders were slammed by DAP for its gender ruling on hair saloon. In another incident, some non-Muslims were fined by local authorities for indecent behavior. Again, barrage of criticism were leveled at Pas State Government.

Though PAS has bend many of its policies to appease the non-Muslims, the move had earned the wrath of party members. Dropping the Islamic nation policy in favor of the welfare state nation did not go down well with the grassroots. Hence, PAS had to reverse some of its policies to appease its own supporters. Recently, Nik Amar, Pas Kelantan deputy commissioner slammed Hu, the chairperson of non-muslim PAS supporters club for criticizing the PAS State Government.

PAS and PKR Muslim leaders are unhappy with the mushrooming of unlicensed SPA and Health Clubs in Selangor. DAP State leaders were quiet about this. However, DAP delegates showed their displeasure with Ronnie Liu and did not give him their votes to the central committee.

In Kedah, DAP refused to be represented in the State Government because of Menteri Besar Azizan pro-Malay policy. PAS Penang also did not participate in the State Cabinet of Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng. The reason is obvious. The grassroots of both PAS and DAP in both States do not see eye to eye with each other.

With all these problems facing the three parties, the leaders dream of capturing Putrajaya will remain just a dream.