History Rewards Those Who Studied It
Many Malaysians have forgotten an important lesson from our political history. In 1990, Semangat 46 and PAS did not merge, they formed the Angkatan Perpaduan Ummah (APU) coalition to challenge Barisan Nasional. The alliance succeeded in helping PAS regain Kelantan. However, when Semangat 46 eventually dissolved in 1996, most of its leaders returned to UMNO while a smaller group joined PAS. PAS emerged politically stronger from that chapter. In my view, PAS has always been a party willing to think in decades rather than election cycles. Over the past 34 years, it has steadily expanded its influence, culminating in 43 parliamentary seats in GE15. If PAS were to improve on that result in GE16 while UMNO remained dependent on it to form the government, the balance of power within the alliance could shift decisively. Politic is ultimately by numbers, not by promises. Agreement made before an election are only as strong as the electoral mandate that follows...
