LAST week, Umno and PAS held their first “official” rally together, after years of denying they had, or intended to have, a formal pact.

The Umno headquarters at Putra World Trade Centre was flooded with PAS members and supporters, which came as no surprise given the Islamist outfit’s knack for mobilising them in droves.

The two parties’ latest political manoeuvre makes sense. It helps eliminate overlaps, allowing Umno and PAS a good chance of winning split seats. Their combined resources will help sustain efforts to spread their communal message and keep their strongholds in four strategically located states leading up to the 15th general election.

Understandably, the pact makes many uncomfortable. The union between Malaysia’s biggest Malay-Muslim parties – also the two biggest parties in the country in general – will lead the nation down the path of right-wing politics, despite Umno and PAS’ (half-hearted) attempts at softening the blow to non-Muslims.

Why PAS was willing to throw Umno a lifeline is still a bit hazy. It would have been an excellent opportunity to wipe out the Barisan Nasional lynchpin and absorb its members en masse, and PAS’ Islamic credentials could “absolve” them of their former party’s “sins”. Previous ties with PAS and the popularity retained by some of its leaders would have been, in some ways, an easier sell to non-Malay voters and constituents in suburban mixed seats.

It is a clear indicator that after 10 years of trying to regain lost non-Malay ground, the almost-dead BN has given up on its multicultural strategy, snuffing out its last hope of survival. If MIC and MCA were playing second fiddle before, they are not even part of the concert now.

However, it is too early to gauge the Umno-PAS pact’s actual strength. The support shown at rallies does not always translate into electoral wins.

For Pakatan Harapan to cave in and resort to the same strategy would be futile, and only hasten the delivery of the country into Umno-PAS hands. You cannot “out-Islamise” or “out-Malay” the parties that have perfected those credos. If they succeed in luring PH into their arena, it will be an easy knockout.

What PH should consider doing instead is build a strong middle ground.

Fixing the economy is of paramount importance. There still isn’t any clear rallying point or easily understandable target or mantra to get behind, besides those to do with broadband penetration, palm oil and flying cars. The people’s economic hardships must be alleviated. This was the main premise that PH pushed, and on which it won GE14.

While some positive steps have been taken, like stabilising oil prices, reducing toll charges, and abolishing the goods and services tax, plans to create quality jobs need to be in overdrive and realised. It is not enough to just throw out fancy acronyms like TVET, IR4.0 and 5G. Efforts must bear the fruits of proper jobs and wages for Malaysians.

Social integration programmes, too, should be stepped up. The disgruntled Malays flocking towards communal politics are mostly employed, whether directly or indirectly, in government and government-linked entities. This places PH leaders in the best position to address their concerns – economic, social, religious, etc.

More often than not, it is a matter of perception and narrative, as even the most outrageous fake news, if left unaddressed for a long time, can turn into “facts”, and people could secretly despise you for something that you did not even do in the first place.

In some ways, the Umno-PAS pact is even more formidable than BN was to PH. If the ruling pact wants to keep its hold on power, it must move quickly to counter negative perception and win over the public.

If PH is mulling saving its trump cards for the next elections, it should reconsider, and play some of them now. – September 18, 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.