Between The Devil And The Deep Blue Sea

Pas has thrown another spanner into the works of the opposition front Pakatan! The Pas Kelantan state government has banned the sale of lotteries in the state. A move that has understandably played into the hands of MCA and angered the non-Malays who see the move as an infringement of their rights.

Why is Pas doing this? Pas may be doing this to try to regain the Malay ground. which it has been losing in several recent by-elections. But the move to stamp its Islamic credentials will surely not endear it to the Chinese and Indians communities and I dare say to quite a few Malays too.

Ordinary Malaysians just want a change of government, and Pakatan opposition offers the best alternative from want of choice. However, Pas with its Islamic agenda and its vaunted objective of making Malaysia an Islamic state, never did sit easy with the non-Malay communities and as I said before even with a substantial number of Malays too.

Never believe what Pas says that more and more Chinese are now supporting Pas. They are not supporting Pas per se, but only because they have no choice since Keadilan and the DAP by themselves may not garner sufficient votes to form the Federal Government.

But the rate and zest with which Pas is sometimes exerting its Islamic credentials may just turn away the Chinese and Indian voters from Pakatan. And this will surely favour the ruling Barisan government.

For goodness's sake, are there no more deserving issues and causes to fight for then banning lotteries and calling for a ban on the sale of beer and alcoholic drinks? What about corruption, crimes, abuse of power and the economy?

Is form more important than substance? Is that what religion is all about?

Maybe Pas should just leave Pakatan. Otherwise many who want a change of government may just think what the heck! it is just between the devil (Barisan) and the deep blue sea (Pakatan) and it would be wiser to go for the devil who is known!