UMNO-PAS pact would hasten each party's demise

Tajuddin moots an UMNO-PAS pact. This will hasten each party's demise.

The times they are a-changin'. The results of GE14 have made that obvious. BN, UMNO, PAS... they are all big losers. That's right. Big losers. Now, some people have the impression that PAS actually did well. But I've written extensively about how badly PAS actually fared in GE14. People who say PAS is a party to be feared are not basing their perception on facts. Look at the numbers, look at the statistics, and you will realize that PAS is a party that's inconsequential.

There is also a misplaced fear among some people that UMNO and PAS might decide to cooperate. Guess what: UMNO and PAS were already chummy during GE14, with PAS playing the role of potential spoiler in many contests (resulting in three-corner fights). As PAS was in the opposition, these three-cornered fights could have benefitted UMNO and hurt Pakatan by splitting the opposition's share of the votes. But that didn't happen and Pakatan won the elections anyway.

So, what happens if UMNO and PAS formalizes their chumminess and form an actual pact?

First, most of the non-Malay/non-Muslim component parties will be forced to leave BN. Not that they contributed much to BN's numbers but at least with MCA, MIC, Gerakan and some East Malaysian parties in the coalition, BN can still claim to be a multi-racial coalition. Once UMNO & PAS team up formally, BN is effectively a Malay/Muslim coalition.

But wouldn't an UMNO/PAS coalition be an even more powerful entity? No.

If voters had already rejected these parties separately why would they suddenly vote for them when they team up? UMNO does not enhance PAS in any way and vice versa. If anything, as a coalition, they will lose voters. Any non-Malay/non-Muslim who had voted for BN in GE14 is surely not going to vote for a new BN comprising UMNO and PAS.

What they will be left with are Malay/Muslim voters. But it is well know that there are many PAS supporters (especially in the East Coast) who despise UMNO. In fact, in GE14, they specifically voted against UMNO. Are these voters suddenly going to embrace UMNO just because it is partnering up with PAS? Perhaps some will but for sure some will not. Similarly, there will be some UMNO voters who will refuse to vote for PAS under any circumstances.

An UMNO-PAS pact can't possibly gain voters. It can only lose them. Firstly, it will lose the non-Malay/Muslim vote (whatever there was left of it). Secondly it will alienate PAS members who hate UMNO. Thirdly it will piss off UMNO members who hate PAS.

Those who fear an UMNO and PAS pact need to understand this: There is no demographic in Malaysia that will suddenly switch its support away from Pakatan in favor of a new BN consisting of UMNO and PAS. None.

Far for from a "whole is greater than the sum of its parts" situation, an UMNO-PAS pact is actually a "whole is lesser than the sum of its parts" scenario. There are no additional votes to be gained, only votes to be lost. Make no mistake, folks. An UMNO-PAS coalition would only serve to hasten each party's demise.