Gerakan in tough position within Perikatan over brewery donation issue

PETALING JAYA: Gerakan has no choice but to speak out due to it being a multiethnic party, says a political analyst over the spat between Gerakan and PAS over the issue of brewery donations to schools.

International Islamic University Malaysia’s Asst Prof Dr Lau Zhe Wei however said it was common for component parties within a coalition to argue, pointing out how most were formed with groups from different ideologies.

On Perikatan Nasional, which both PAS and Gerakan belong to, he said the former was on a more conservative side while Gerakan was more liberal and represented the non-Malays.

“It’s common for them to clash as their ideology is different. On the issue of brewery donations to schools, PAS has to defend their core values while Gerakan has to defend what the non-Muslims want and this sort of clash is perfectly common,” he said.

He said such clashes were also similar to what is happening between the constant arguments between Umno Youth chief Dr Akmal Saleh and DAP despite both being part of the unity government.

Lau said both PAS and Gerakan could instead push the responsibility back to the government to resolve matters.

“They can argue but gradually lower their voices as time passes. At the end of the day, they can throw the ball back to the government on whether it is permissible to put certain logos on mock cheques to schools,” he said.

He added that the attention may eventually be on DAP with the Chinese community possibly rebuking the party for being unable to defend brewery donations to schools.

Universiti Malaya’s Prof Dr Awang Azman Awang Pawi said the issue may see PAS perceived as an extremely conservative party.

“This can impact Perikatan in the long term when it goes back to the voters. The coalition may supposedly be multiracial but reality could say otherwise,” he said.

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He was also of the opinion that the issue was played up by PAS in wanting to gain support for the Nenggiri by-election.

On Gerakan threatening to leave Perikatan over the clash with PAS, Awang Azman said the former was in a tough position as they previously left Barisan Nasional as well.

“If Gerakan does leave, it may see them further fade as they are less popular among Chinese voters compared to DAP and PKR,” he said.

Nusantara Strategic Research Academy senior fellow Prof Dr Azmi Hassan said it was a mistake for Gerakan to threaten to leave Perikatan.

“PAS will never back down as their rallying cry is protecting the sanctity of Islam,” he said.

He was also of the opinion that Gerakan would not leave the coalition.

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“Gerakan needs Perikatan while PAS can do without them in the coalition. Gerakan will somehow or rather have to justify why they won’t leave the coalition,” he said.

This comes after PAS had taken issue with the donation of breweries to schools while Gerakan aligned with DAP in the sensitive issue involving funding of Chinese schools by alcohol companies.

This led to Gerakan threatening to leave Perikatan.

PAS however has not backed down, with senior PAS leaders including vice-president Datuk Mohd Amar Nik Abdullah and Kedah Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor telling Gerakan to leave the party if they wished.

PAS information chief Ahmad Fadhli Shaari previously expressed disappointment with Gerakan’s stance saying it was not possible for both parties to be in the same coalition for the next general election.