WHILE the unity government under Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim claims it is stable, the masses are uncertain.

After the August 12 state elections, all indicators point towards waning support for the federal administration.

No doubt the maths has not changed in parliament or Putrajaya per se, but the outcome is something Anwar’s government cannot dismiss outright or underestimate – the growing support for PAS and its green wave.

PAS has indeed gained more ground in the past nine months than it has in the past two decades.

While there are many factors in play for the growing support for PAS and its ally Bersatu, it is mainly the non-acceptance of DAP.

Politics is all about optics and perception. The perception remains that DAP plays a pivotal role in policymaking.

In recent days, Umno and even PAS leaders have been vocal against DAP’s “Malaysian Malaysia”.

Above that, Umno has persistently said due to its acceptance of DAP and vice versa, the Malay community is beginning to distance itself from the unity government.

Is this all pointing towards Umno and PAS reviving Muafakat Nasional, to eventually pressure Anwar into absorbing Perikatan Nasional into the unity government?

Doing so will definitely benefit Anwar, as it will firstly strengthen his position among the Malay-Muslim community.

Second, he will by default, extinguish all unnecessary politicking.

And last but not least, Anwar can concentrate on more urgent and important issues concerning the nation’s economy and societal well-being.

The only catch here is that he has to significantly sideline DAP.

The ball will then be in DAP’s court – it can either leave the new unity government or become MCA 2.0, which never really had a say in Barisan Nasional.

There are four long years till the next general election, and Anwar cannot afford to waste time fighting political uncertainty.

It is high time he spends more time and energy addressing issues of the common man.

Bottom line, he has to bite the bullet and decide DAP’s fate. – August 31, 2023.

* Narinder Pal Singh reads The Malaysian Insight.