It never rains but it pours.

In my last posting yesterday “As I see it”  I said that UMNO had the Malay numbers. And from recent developments it would seem that those numbers might be improved sooner then later!

Hadi to meet Nik Aziz over Christmas Eve unity talk

By Adib Zalkapli and G. Manimaran

January 04, 2011

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 4 — PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang and secretary-general Datuk Mustafa Ali will meet Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat today over unity talks with Umno leaders organised recently by Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

The Malaysian Insider understands the meeting has been called to avoid further embarrassment to the party following reports of a secret meeting with Datuk Seri Najib Razak and his deputy Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin last Christmas Eve at Istana Terengganu here.

It is learnt that Hadi (picture) and his deputy Nasharuddin Mat Isa had also attended the unity talks hosted by Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin. Both are seen as the leading lights in the pro-Umno faction within the Islamist party.

“They will address the controversy surrounding the unity talk before Tuan Guru Nik Aziz officially explains the issue on behalf of the party,” said a PAS insider familiar with the issue.

In Malaysia, politics and race are one. When you include religion then the mix becomes toxic for others that are not part of that mix.

Tenang by-election is there for BN to lose. BN is so far ahead that it might just be more prudent for PR to concede now and focus on more practical matters – like consolidating their hold in Selangor and for PKR to begin the charm offensive to maintain what support they still have amongst the people. It is no use being an ostrich and hide your head in the sand hoping that all the angst will go away. It will not.