THE combination of Pakatan Harapan, Barisan Nasional and Borneo pact parties has the opportunity of being a new coalition for all, like the early days of Barisan Nasional when it was truly a union of the major ethnic groups.
The mutual need for party reforms provides this avenue for a symbiotic relationship.
First, Umno/BN is in dire need of soul-searching and internal cleansing. Stage-four cancer needs body-wide chemoteraphy and a serious lifestyle change.
Although this should've have come sooner, and that the grassroots should've rejected corrupt leaders and practices early on, its is better late than never.
Either they heed this wake-up call, or succumb to the fatal disease and be rejected to become irrelevant in the future. They can learn plenty from PKR on reforms and moderation.
Second, PKR is in dire need to get traditional (rural and semi-urban) Malay votes. They can learn plenty from Umno on this.
Third, the needs and weaknesses of PKR and Umno provide an opportunity for both sides to improve.
A successful and close (believable) cooperation is a formidable force against the tide of Pas/Bersatu — a "theo-ethnocentric" alliance that can be combustive for multiracial nation.
A reformed BN/Umno-PH/PKR pact can bring true Islamic leadership, which teaches that there is no basis for accentuating ethnic polarisation and divisive identity politics, capitalising on race and religion.
Simply put, racism isn't supported by Islamic teachings. This will be a clear contrast to the brand that PN is selling.
Understand that the rise of Pas isn't really because of Pas (at least not in their traditional East Coast strongholds) but due to two things: anti-Umno (anti-corruption) and anti-DAP sentiments.
The rejection of Umno is only trumped by the rejection of DAP, being demonised as the bogeyman for decades.
The resulting outcome is a lack of choice for Malays and Pas/Bersatu becomes the only avenue (at least perception wise). Compounding the issue is the gerrymandering over decades, resulting in 30 per cent of the population determining 70 per cent of the seats in Parliament.
Hence, unequal representation where a constituency with more than 100,000 voters has one representative in Parliament while some constituency with less than 15,000 voters too have one representative in Parliament.
Reforming Umno to be more clean and transparent, and to be more moderate, progressive and more open in their stance as a Malay-centric party would provide the first step for non-Malay-centric parties to "lower their guard", and thus, catalysing others towards moderation.
In this case, DAP continues their role (as perceived by many) of championing non-Malay rights and concerns, particularly for Chinese and Indians.
However, they have much to learn from GE15 outcome, and must reform and communicate well, to be able to appeal to the majority of Malays.
The mutual moderation of stances between DAP and Umno is a big start for national unity, not just racial unity. The joint ideation and cooperation between reformed component parties in PH and BN is the new national brand.
They are the only ones that can truly be the national entity for all, because PN has taken over Umno-BN's brand (as perceived) of the Malay-supremacist, ethnocentric and theocratic entity.
This apparent organic "brand swap" allows the PH-BN-East Malaysia parties to be the new Barisan Nasional of old, during the time of Tunku Abdul Rahman, Tun Tan Cheng Lock and Tun V.T. Sambanthan that demonstrated national unity that is severely lacking in Malaysia's current political landscape.
With the support of East Malaysia, this can be a coalition that is truly for all. Drop the senseless ego and pride. Realise the golden opportunity that is upon us.
This is the chance to put Malaysia back on the trajectory of peace and prosperity for all. For once, let the mandate of the people win for a better Malaysia .
Not the backroom negotiations of the few.
The writer is president and Chief executive officer of EMIR Research