BN ver. 2.0 - is that where we may be moving towards with talks about 'Unity Government'?

We must also pay attention to what Ku Li has been saying in the media...recalling what happened after the 1969 General Elections, when the Alliance (UMNO-MCA-MIC) only managed to win 51% of the seats in Parliament, i.e. 74 out of 144 seats contested.

Then there was that May 13, Emergency Proclamation,....and then formation of a Coalition Government (sounds like this "Unity Government" that Tengku Razaleigh is talking about), and in the next General Elections in 1974, BN won 88% of the seats in Parliament (i.e. 135 out of 154 seats contested.) [see my earlier posting - http://charleshector.blogspot.com/2008/09/of-past-elections-historical-facts-in.html]

The Alliance political formula was widened to become a larger political cooperation under the Malay--non-Malay politics to the whole nation. This concept was spread with the formation of a Coalition Government at the Federal and State levels. This cooperation of various and multiple parties was later institutionalized as BARISAN NASIONAL (BN) and was formally registered on the 1st July 1974. Besides UMNO, MCA and MIC, BARISAN NASIONAL was made up of six other parties, which before this was on the other side of the fence.

Those parties were PAS ( which was later expelled from BN ), Parti Progresif Rakyat ( PPP ), Parti Gerakan Rakyat Malaysia ( GERAKAN ), Sarawak United People's Party ( SUPP ), Parti Pesaka Bumiputra and USNO from Sabah. Only DAP and PSRM refused to join the Coalition. BN, which used the new symbol - the 'dacing' had strengthen and stabilize the Malaysian political situation, and relationship among races had never become closer. Later, other political parties, especially in Sabah and Sarawak joined the BN. These parties are Berjaya from Sabah, SNAP and PBDS from Sarawak.

In the 1990's many new parties surfaced to join Barisan Nasional as a result of the political turmoil in Sabah when PBS walked out of Barisan Nasional. These parties are Akar Bersatu, SAPP, LDP, PBRS and PDS. Today BN consists of 14 parties.

The birth of BN signaled the beginning of a new era for Malaysia which is now ruled by a multiple race component parties, a struggle of the united community. Among the main objective of BN is the struggle to strive for cooperation among races, peace, harmony and justice to ensure Malaysia will continue to develop and prosper, in line with vision 2020.- Source:- Barisan Nasional Penang Website

And it seems that Pakatan Rakyat leaders may be also considering the formation of the next generation Barisan Nasional....or BN version 2.0..

Veteran Umno politician Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah has discussed with PAS, DAP and PKR leaders the possibility of forming a national unity Federal Government as a way out of the current political and economic stalemate.

As a precedent, he cited former premier Tun Abdul Razak Hussein’s Barisan Nasional model that came from the original Alliance coalition of Umno, MCA and MIC.

Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, DAP adviser Lim Kit Siang and PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang had sought appointments with the former Finance Minister. - Star, 7/10/2008 - Ku Li: Form unity government

The Tengku Razaleigh moves forward suggesting that the current BN become a single entity - hence moving away from being race-based political parties. (This is not new - for I believe, Mahatahir also did raise this matter before. I believe Abdullah Ahmad Badawi also did mention something like this before). Is he just talking about current BN or the new "BN ver 2.0" - If the later, then we may be moving towards a single party system.

After calling for the formation of a national unity Federal Government with opposition parties, Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah has proposed that Barisan Nasional become a single political entity.

The veteran politician said he was ready to deal with Umno members who may reject the move, stating that although Barisan becomes a single political entity, the special rights of the Malays would be upheld in the Federal Constitution.

“There is nothing to fear as it benefits everyone,” he said, adding that there was no need to amend the Constitution with regards to Islam being the official religion and Bahasa Malaysia the official language.

Tengku Razaleigh, the nation’s longest serving parliamentarian and former finance minister, said he was open to discussion over a single Barisan party instead of the present 13 coalition partners system after the Sabah Progessive Party pulled out last month.

“I am suggesting that Barisan become a multi-racial party for all. Umno members can be direct members in it,” he said in an interview. - Star, 8/10/2008 - Tengku Razaleigh suggests BN become a single political entity

Now, Anwar Ibrahim has been saying that he has the required number for Pakatan Rakyat to become the Federal Government - and he is still saying that...

But maybe, there is another problem - i.e. the number of Muslim and non-Muslim MPs in the Opposition Coalition. PAS clearly said that it is not interested if non-Muslims outnumber Muslims...

In the latest edition of the Harakah (29/9/2008), the PAS President has allegedly stated that if the number of Muslim Malay representative is not the majority in Pakatan Rakyat, then PAS will pull out of the Pakatan Rakyat..

I tried to find this report online - but alas, I could not find it in the online version of the Harakah but did manage to find 2 sources, the 1st is as follows:-

Dipetik Harakah menerusi edisi terbaru bertarikh 29 September (hari ini), Abdul Hadi berkata, apabila jumlah wakil rakyat bukan Islam melebihi kerusi anggota Dewan Rakyat beragama Islam, maka PAS akan membuat keputusan - sedia menarik diri daripada kerajaan Pakatan Rakyat.

Kata beliau, PAS telah meletakkan syarat agar kerajaan Pakatan Rakyat itu dikuasai oleh wakil-wakil Islam Melayu.

Jika Islam tidak majoriti, bekas Ketua Pembangkang di Parlimen itu berkata, pembentukan kerajaan pimpinan Pakatan Rakyat tidak akan disertai oleh PAS.
"PAS akan tarik diri terang-terang jika tidak mendapat majoriti Islam. Itu syarat pertama," kata beliau - from Depa Kata Blog, Amaran PAS: Tolak kerajaan pusat Pakatan Rakyat jika majoriti bukan Islam [http://depa-kata.blogspot.com/2008/09/amaran-pas-tolak-kerajaan-pusat-pakatan.html]

The 2nd source is :-
Selepas tarikh 16 September berlalu tanpa kejutan, PAS pula mengulangi pendiriannya tidak akan menyertai kerajaan Pakatan Rakyat jika kerajaan baru persekutuan yang dicita-citakan, majoritinya dikuasai oleh wakil rakyat bukan Islam kelak.

Pendirian itu dinyatakan oleh Presidennya, Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang pada Ceramah Isu-isu Semasa di Dungun, Terengganu minggu lalu.

Abdul Hadi yang juga Ahli Parlimen Marang lebih mengharapkan wakil rakyat Umno menyertai PAS jika mahu membina kekuatan orang Melayu dan Islam di negara ini.

Dipetik Harakah menerusi edisi terbaru bertarikh 29 September (hari ini), Abdul Hadi berkata, apabila jumlah wakil rakyat bukan Islam melebihi kerusi anggota Dewan Rakyat beragama Islam, maka PAS akan membuat keputusan - sedia menarik diri daripada kerajaan Pakatan Rakyat.

Kata beliau, PAS telah meletakkan syarat agar kerajaan Pakatan Rakyat itu dikuasai oleh wakil-wakil Islam Melayu.

Jika Islam tidak majoriti, bekas Ketua Pembangkang di Parlimen itu berkata, pembentukan kerajaan pimpinan Pakatan Rakyat tidak akan disertai oleh PAS.

"PAS akan tarik diri terang-terang jika tidak mendapat majoriti Islam. Itu syarat pertama," kata beliau.- mStar, 29/9/2008, Amaran PAS: Tolak kerajaan pusat Pakatan jika majoriti bukan Islam [http://www1.mstar.com.my/cerita.asp?file=/2008/9/29/mstar_mutakhir/20080929125641&sec=mstar_mutakhir] - http://charleshector.blogspot.com/2008/09/pas-president-should-focus-on-change.html

So, maybe there may be some truth in this talk about moving towards a formation of a "UNITY GOVERNMENT" ...or BN ver. 2.0.

What do you think?