IT WOULD be impossible for Malay parties to unite and form a coalition after the general election as each party has its own ideology, political observers said.

They told The Malaysian Insight that the remarks from former attorney-general Tommy Thomas that Malay parties would form a coalition, is far-fetched, describing it as mere provocation to get the non-Malays to come out to vote.

They said it would be difficult to see Umno agreeing with Bersatu, adding it would be even harder for Gerakan Tanah Air led by Dr Mahathir Mohamad to come to terms with PAS.

Ilham Centre executive director Hisomuddin Bakar said if Malay parties are ready to be under one umbrella, Dr Mahathir could have just rejoined Bersatu.

He said the intra-party disputes between existing parties are so clear that it would be impossible for each party leader to negotiate because they are targeting the same voters.

“Umno cannot accept Bersatu and GTA cannot accept Bersatu, Umno and PAS. It is a very complicated matter,” he said.

In a forum yesterday, Thomas had said despite the apparent disunity among Malay political parties, the bickering outfits may be able to see eye to eye after the election, saying that they might even form a united Malay coalition.

Saying there will be no one party or coalition which would garner the majority of votes, Thomas said the fighting among parties like PAS, Umno, Bersatu and Pejuang will soon be forgotten as there will be calls for a united Malay government.

“My concern is that post-GE15, we will enter a bargaining phase,” he said at a forum entitled ‘Dark Forces Towards GE15’.

Also present as panellists were DAP veteran Lim Kit Siang, PSM chairman Dr Michael Jeyakumar Devaraj, lawyer Siti Kasim, former Sg Benut MP Mohd Tawfik Ismail and former Bersih chairperson Ambiga Sreenevasan.

“The real negotiations will happen post-elections and that is when there will be a united Malay coalition.”“I’m alerting you that all fighting between the Malay parties pre-elections will be forgotten after GE15 as there will be calls for a united Malay leadership.”

Universiti Teknologi Malaysia Dr Mazlan Ali mirrored Hisomuddin’s sentiment saying Umno would want to be the dominant party in the government.

He said Dr Mahathir would also refuse to allow Umno to dominate as several Umno party leaders are fighting graft charges in court.

“Umno wants to stay dominant as they are looking to contest in more than 100 seats.”

“The idea to have a Malay dominated government is good, but not practical. Umno will not accept Bersatu because they want to be seen as the protector of the Malays.”

“They have to do that in order to survive. If other Malay parties are allowed to be part of the government, how can Umno claim to be the sole protector of the Malays,” he added.

Umno vice president Ismail Sabri Yaakob who is also the prime minister had said the date of the election would be announced soon.

Ismail is being pressured by several Umno leaders to call for snap polls immediately.

He had been urged to make the announcement after ex-prime minister Najib Razak was sent to prison following his SRC International graft conviction.

University Malaya academic Prof Dr Awang Azman Awang Pawi said Thomas’ statement was a call for non-Muslims to come out to vote.

“His conclusion is wrong because it is hard for all Malay parties to unite. There are various differences between existing parties.”

“I think he was just provoking the non-Malays to come out and vote in the GE after many of them did not do so during the Malacca and Johor state elections,” Awang Azman said. – September 19, 2022.