UMNO should be lauded for not abandoning MCA in the Tanjung Piai polls.

The once-mighty Chinese component of Barisan Nasional is at its lowest ebb, having seen its power base gradually eroding over three general elections; from having four ministers and 10 deputy ministers in 2008, it now has just one MP and two assemblymen.

For all of Umno’s racially charged propaganda, it knows that it badly needs MCA, not just to lend credence to its new pact with PAS, but also to benefit from MCA’s grassroots network to reach the Chinese. In Sabah and Sarawak, Chinese-majority parties have quit BN, creating a support vacuum, and an ideological disconnect between the Chinese and the mainly Malay-Muslim-geared narrative of race and religion that is more stark than in the peninsula.

However, PAS’ support for MCA’s Tg Piai candidate is harder to justify, or even make sense of.

MCA has been at the forefront of the opposition to hudud, and has chided – in fact, openly blamed – DAP for PAS’ “rise” in mainstream politics, making the BN component more palatable to the Chinese electorate.

With regard to the proposed amendment to the Shariah Courts (Criminal Jurisdiction) Act 1965 (RUU355), the MCA candidate had actively campaigned against it to win back lost Chinese support.

Has MCA all of a sudden accepted RUU355?

Is PAS willing to oversee this “kebiaDAPan”, a pejorative often used to describe DAP? Or, should the “DAP” in the word be replaced with “MCA”?

And what about the Buy Muslim First (BMF) campaign? Does it apply to buying into this pathetic political rhetoric?

In a previous by-election, PAS’ campaign was all about increasing Malay-Muslim representation in Parliament. In the Tg Piai race, there are two candidates who very much belong in that group: an imam from Bersatu and a member of Berjasa, a “kosher” offshoot of PAS (unlike Amanah).

So, why are the Islamists suddenly holding on tight to the very things it has all this while openly rejected? How would supporting an avowed opponent of hudud be in any way furthering PAS’ cause? Do religious goalposts shift as quickly as PAS’ political goals?

On the flip side, what about MCA accepting PAS’ support and endorsement? Does this mean MCA now supports BMF, birthday parties with Secret Recipe cakes for party leaders notwithstanding?

The fact is, PAS and MCA share no common ground.

Though Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad entering the fray may be seen as a compromise of values of sorts, it cannot be measured against the hypocrisy exhibited by the two parties, which are united by little more than hate.

MCA hates not being in power any more, and PAS hates those who are in power. They cannot stand these things more than they cannot stand each other.

As sad as the situation sounds, in the long run, it augurs well for Malaysian politics – parties realising that they cannot go it alone, and in the process, finding the need to re-evaluate their stance. At the end of the day, the party that rules Malaysia must represent all Malaysians.

Divisive rhetoric is a quick and cheap sell. But, political wisdom dictates that Malaysia’s vision needs to be a shared one. Every race should have meaningful, mainstream representation and a loud-enough voice; they should not be just a side show to the political rodeo.

The focus should equally be on the candidate and the party they stand for – if either stands for anything at all. – November 6, 2019.

* Emmanuel Joseph firmly believes that Klang is the best place on Earth, and that motivated people can do far more good than any leader with motive.

* This is the opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insight. Article may be edited for brevity and clarity.