No Anwar, no DAP, no Bersatu? Of Umno’s unity govt and selective criticism

KUALA LUMPUR – In the evolving scene of Malaysian politics, Umno’s 2021 resolution of “No Anwar, No DAP” has frequently taken centre stage, becoming a touchstone for various critics and political manoeuvrings. 

Calls for Umno to re-evaluate its alliances have grown since the party’s disastrous showing in the recently concluded state polls. 

After the November general election, Malaysia witnessed a surprising turn of events, with Umno entering into a unity government with Pakatan Harapan (PH), which comprises PKR, DAP and Amanah.

This decision garnered its fair share of criticisms, yet the loudest among these critics seem to possess selective memories.

Until now, some have said that Umno had backtracked on its “No Anwar, No DAP” stance and that it would be better off for the party to join forces with Perikatan Nasional (PN) as it serves the greater purpose of Malay and the Ummah unity.

However, one needs to remember that Umno's resolution was not just an aversion towards Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim or DAP; it included a clear and explicit mention of “No Bersatu,” referring to the outfit led by Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin. 

The full resolution during the Umno 2020 general assembly that was held in March 2021, was “No Anwar, No DAP and No Bersatu”. 

This detail, while conveniently overlooked by many, is crucial to understanding the intricacies of the situation and the reasons behind the resolution.

A faction of critics and political commentators has ardently urged Umno to forge an alliance with PN, which includes Bersatu, in their bid to provide a stronger opposition against the present government, or even engineer yet another “coup” to take over Putrajaya. 

However, their insistence on this coalition, while simultaneously decrying Umno’s unity government with PKR and DAP, exposes a glaring hypocrisy. 

Neglecting ‘No Bersatu’ 

By urging an alliance with PN and conveniently neglecting the “No Bersatu” stance, these critics are essentially cherry-picking from the resolution to suit their narratives.

Umno’s decision to work with PKR and DAP can be interpreted in various ways and could also be seen as political opportunism or strategic choice. 

Whatever the semantics, it is all about the party, the nation and its people. 

We must remember that every political decision, especially in a post-election scenario, is always taken with multiple considerations in mind: be it for stability, the rakyat’s welfare, or shared ideological goals. 

Umno’s move could very well be seen in this light, rather than as an outright betrayal of its previously stated resolution. 

It is looking at stability in a time when the world is facing economic uncertainty and various global crises.

Furthermore, if one were to argue that the unity government with PKR and DAP is against the resolution, then by the same logic, joining forces with PN would be equally, if not more, contentious due to Bersatu’s involvement, which is basically a splinter party of Umno. 

It is somewhat similar to asking PAS and Amanah to be in a coalition. 

They also need to look back on the reasons Umno had insisted that they did not want to work with Bersatu.

The selective amnesia of critics in this context points towards a larger issue in political discourse. 

Decisions and resolutions from the past are often weaponised to cater to current agendas without looking at the complete picture. 

It is as though critics have a buffet-style approach to the resolution, picking elements they find appetising and discarding those that do not serve their immediate purpose. 

This approach not only diminishes the depth and richness of political discourse but also leads to fragmented and often misguided narratives.

It is imperative, therefore, to understand and analyse the resolution in its entirety. 

Picking convenient parts while ignoring others will not do justice to current political dynamics.

While the Malaysian political arena continues its journey of transformations and realignments, it is crucial for critics and discussions to be comprehensive, fair, and devoid of convenient oversights. 

The “No Anwar, No DAP, No Bersatu” resolution is not a menu card to order from, but a testament to Umno’s stances at a specific time. 

As dynamics change, political decisions will evolve, but any critique should be holistic and not suffer from selective memory. – The Vibes, September 7, 2023