SHAH ALAM – Parti Amanah Negara (Amanah), which previously opposed political cooperation between Pas and Umno, is now under scrutiny for being part of a government alongside Umno.
Pas Information Chief Ahmad Fadhli Shaari said Amanah was formed on the basis of its opposition to Pas working with Umno, yet both parties are now part of the same government.
He questioned why Pas and Perikatan Nasional (PN) were labelled as practising “Machiavellian” politics for adopting a similar approach during several state elections.
“Today, are Amanah and Umno not both part of the government and sharing power? If that is not called ‘Machiavellian’ politics, what is?
“Do not forget that an Amanah leader once went as far as comparing Pas to a father who wanted to prostitute his own daughter to Umno.
“Now, who is actually doing what they once condemned? When Amanah cooperates with Umno, is it called political wisdom, but when Pas and PN take the same approach, we are suddenly labelled ‘Machiavellian’?” he said in a statement on Sunday.
Previously, media reports quoted Selangor Amanah chairman Datuk Izham Hashim as warning Malays against being taken in by the Malay-Muslim unity campaign between Umno and Pas, which he alleged was merely a ploy to gain political power.
In the same statement, Izham also described both parties as practitioners of “Machiavellian” politics and accused them of exploiting racial and religious issues for political gain.
Fadhli also questioned the response from Amanah over the Selangor Sultan's royal address during the opening of the Selangor State Legislative Assembly sitting, which he claimed had been indirectly challenged by a DAP state assemblyman.
“Who is actually seen as questioning the royal address in an assembly sitting that was itself opened with His Royal Highness' speech? Did the Selangor Sultan's address not explicitly mention the name of a DAP leader who was asked to relearn the Rukun Negara?
“Why is Izham not speaking out just as strongly about principles and respect for the royal institution in this matter?
“As Selangor Amanah chairman, he should not be so busy looking for a speck in someone else's eye while pretending not to see the elephant right in front of him,” he said.
Fadhli further advised Izham to use the remaining time Amanah has in the state and federal governments to serve the people.
He said Amanah could leave little behind to be remembered for if it failed to deliver for the public while allegedly allowing actions that pressured and oppressed the people.
“Make use of the remaining opportunity to serve the people so that when the day comes that you are no longer in government, at least there will be some contributions worth remembering.
“Unfortunately, if your contributions are insignificant while the people are pressured and oppressed everywhere, your political fate may eventually be no different from a wet doormat outside a toilet. Stepped on when needed, then forgotten without anyone feeling its absence. Do not let that be the only legacy you leave behind,” he said.