WIN or lose, the Tg Piai by-election is a crucial test to see whether Barisan Nasional and PAS can cooperate ahead of the 15th general election.

“This is the first test for us to see who we can work with in the future,” PAS state commissioner Abdullah Husin told The Malaysian Insight.

“We will use this as a way to test the BN-PAS muafakat nasional (national cooperation). By working with MCA, we can show that PAS is not racist or Taliban-like.”

He said although MCA has not quite warmed up to PAS yet, the two parties have started to “understand” each other.

“This by-election is the starting point for MCA and PAS to work together.”

Although the PAS machinery was not visible, the Islamist party has mobilised volunteers from all 26 divisions in Johor, Abdullah said.

“There is some coordination in terms of work between our two parties although it is not official.

“We have also agreed to work closer together after this by-election. PAS can only reach more people by cooperating with MCA and MIC.”

Umno deputy president Mohamad Hasan said BN and PAS working together is merely a continuation of the Umno-PAS cooperation.

“Since we felt that the Malay unity issue is already working with Umno and PAS, we decided it was time to open up the space and call it the muafakat nasional, as Malay unity has a limited scope.”

The former Negri Sembilan menteri besar said Tg Piai is the right place to send a strong signal to all Malaysians that Umno and PAS are not racists.

“Putting a MCA candidate here only proves how successful we have been in interpreting the muafakat nasional.”

He said the wave is now back with BN as people have gotten weary of Pakistan Harapan.

“Malaysians have begun to see the muafakat nasional as a new wave,” said the Rantau assemblyman.

BN campaigner Ahmad Muhammad said the cooperation between BN and PAS should have been done long ago.

“Malays are too divided. As for a Chinese candidate, I think Malay voters are open to the idea.

“If BN fails to win this by-election, PH will only get stronger and it will become harder for BN in the future.

“We are not voting for a Chinese as we are looking at the party,” said the 58-year-old.

The Tg Piai seat fell vacant after the death of its MP Dr Md Farid Md Rafik from complications following a heart attack.

Six candidates are vying the seat – Karmaine Sardini (PH), Wee Jeck Seng (BN), Wendy Subramaniam (Gerakan), Dr Badhrulhisham Abdul Aziz (Berjasa) and independents Faridah Aryani Abd Ghani and Dr Ang Chuan Lock.

Early voting was held yesterday while polling is on Saturday.

Meanwhile, Umno member Abd Karim Othman, 72, said that the grassroots wanted a Malay candidate for the by-election.

“Many members wanted Umno Tg Piai division chief Jefridin Atan to contest here. Some had even threatened to boycott the elections if the candidate was someone else.

“But we cannot work alone. Whether it’s PAS or Umno, we cannot recapture the country if we work on our own. We need to work with others and that includes MCA and MIC.” – November 13, 2019.