MARCH 19 — There are moments in our life when we are stuck and can’t move forward. Any path we choose seems to hit a brick wall. The current political climate in Malaysia is indeed in such a predicament. 

Have you ever played Monopoly where you are stuck in a situation where your opponent is winning, stacked with loads of cash and you are struggling to survive? Capitalism works that way too. Well, the PAS hudud amendment literally puts Pakatan in that situation. Whatever step you take you can never win.

Now that PAS has marched on with their hudud dream, the Pakatan coalition partners should seriously reconsider their relevance as a pact under such odd circumstances. 

I think DAP and PKR will have a heart-to-heart brainstorming session to reposition themselves taking into consideration the big picture of what Malaysia is going through at the moment so that we do not slide back into the dark abyss.

When we are stuck in a situation like this, all options should be considered. Here are some possible options that we might find ourselves to try to move forward.

Option 1: A split in PAS

The next obvious option is probably to wait and see if the progressive faction of PAS can gain any serious ground in the coming PAS muktamar. 

If no, probably the option of a split in PAS, which has been highly speculated and talked about lately, is the most viable one for Pakatan.  http://www.themalaymailonline.com/what-you-think/article/a-split-in-pas-is-necessary-for-pakatans-successful-march-to-putrajaya-kuo

It might take some time for Pakatan to recover from the PAS internal split but this option is best in the long run.

Option 2: Would the MPs prefer Muhyiddin or Ku Li?

DAP, PKR and others tentatively form a unity government with Umno if and only if Ku Li is the elected prime minister.  http://www.malaysia-today.net/ku-li-as-pm/

Many analysts do not think this is a good way forward for Malaysia’s democracy. 

I believe if Ku Li is the elected prime minister, the conservative faction of PAS would agree to this move too. 

This opens up an opportunity for the opposition to have a positive effect on areas that desperately need change such as the independence of the judiciary, the police force, the election commission, MACC and many more supposedly independent governmental organisations.

This option if realised can have positive slow change for Malaysia for the next generation.

Ku Li is at a very old age anyway. When he is gone, Pakatan can regroup in a more positive political climate.

Option 3: Restructure Pakatan’s modus operandi

Pakatan was near its death bed during the Selangor MB crisis. Hudud is the final nail in the coffin. If Pakatan is to stay together, they have to operate differently. http://www.themalaymailonline.com/what-you-think/article/lessons-from-the-selangor-mb-saga-a-possible-mechanism-for-the-pakatan-coal

This option might be hard to swallow by DAP. As mentioned earlier, all cards should be laid on the table to find the best way out of this predicament to prevent Malaysia from sliding back to the abyss.

Of course the opposition think tanks would have some other options here and there. To stay in the game of Monopoly with very little cash is a very frustrating one.

* This is the view of the individual and does not necessarily represent the opinion of Malay Mail Online.