I think politics in this country has degenerated into the most absurd level and today I am not referring to Umno or BN. I am talking about PKR - how its seemingly intelligent leaders are now trying to articulate the most ridiculous and wangle the impossible.

In a nutshell, this is what Rafizi and other leaders in PKR said recently.

(i) PKR is committed to Pakatan Harapan but at the same time it wants to continue cooperating with PAS to win election;

(ii) PAS appeared to be the only party capable of competing with Umno to win the Malay heartlands because the party is seemingly “so Islamic, innocent and very strong with the Malays”;

(iii) Many of the Malays are not even aware of the existence of the three-month-old PAS splinter Parti Amanah Negara;

(iv) PKR will only review its position with PAS when there is an “official position” between PAS and Umno. PAS’ fundamental policies and its oscillating position and ambiguity do not count for much;

(v) PAS is needed to forge a straight fight against BN, which is necessary to win in the next election;

(vi) Politics is not about “they hit you so why don't you hit back”. PKR must compromise with PAS because the party and Pakatan Harapan do not want to be twisted and labelled as anti-Malay and anti-Islam;

(vii) PKR is the only party able to continue talking with PAS, stressing the importance of PKR’s role to rein in multi-ethnic voters back to the centre.

I am not a politician seeking electoral office and therefore maybe it is easier for me to talk.

But in politics, is winning everything? We win an election for what, to enjoy power or to carry out fundamental policies and ideals we believe in?

Why would PAS help Pakatan Harapan to win an election if the party does not wish to carry out its core policies and ideals? So it must boil down to PAS’ policies and ideals again. Does Pakatan Harapan, as a coalition, believe in PAS’ policies and objectives? If not, why want to win to incriminate themselves to policies that are at tangent to their own beliefs?

PAS is not as strong, pious and innocent as it was made out to be. On their own, they have not grown beyond the north-eastern states. It was Pakatan Rakyat that has helped to them to gain prominence and “moderate face” nationally.

Enlightened Malay leaders must come in

My contention is why the need to compete with PAS on fake piousness and bigotry? PAS must be challenged on its false pretence and incompetence. When the great flood hit Kelantan, what did PAS leaders do other than saying they themselves were also trapped in the flood? This is where enlightened Malay leaders must come in.

We expect enlightenment, education and knowledge spread among the rural population, not continued indoctrination, archaisms and ignorance.

It does not matter PAS has chosen to work with Umno or anybody else. The most important consideration is whether the party’s policies and objectives are in consonance with Pakatan Harapan.

PAS does not own Malays and Islam. I think it is a defeatist attitude if Pakatan Harapan coalition partners must hold on to the belief that only PAS is able to shake off their anti-Malays and anti-Islam label. In fact, Amanah, PKR and DAP must each try out their own platform to appeal to the Malays and Muslims.

Changing the mind-set and bringing the people to see the issues correctly are never easy. But then it is already half a century, how long more do we need to wait further? I think sincere politicians mustn’t resort to the easiest way to gain power. They mustn’t compete to keep people ignorant, archaic and parochial. On the contrary, they must instil in them knowledge, rationality and inclusiveness.

We know in many aspects this country is going backward. Inadvertently or not, PKR is now telling us how to compete to win election so that we can all go backward faster.