Such a desire may be difficult to define, as the range of subjects is actually quite broad. Given the scope, the lunch itself may be expected to last a minimum of a year. That he would be interested in a face-to-face confrontation with an opposition Islamic faction hints his political position is poor. PAS thus accepts with alacrity, attempting to conceal the glee that such a splendid and unexpected opportunity should arise.

The issues which divide the Malays are many and manifold. First and to the fore, of course, is the scurrilous treatment and detention of fellow Muslim Anwar Ibrahim. PAS has been eager to discuss this for over two years, and now they are to have the chance. The prime minister, however, may not wish to alter his view that justice has been served, and thus there is nothing to review. In his opinion Anwar has never denied the charges against him. He seems naively innocent of any legal understanding regarding a plea of not guilty. For twenty years he has been responsible for executing the law of the land. The current status of the legal system in Malaysia is thus an offspring of his tenure.

Another issue which divides the Malays is the Terengganu oil royalty. PAS is in the process of filing preliminary legal papers for bringing suit against the administration for the high-handed manner in which this contract was interfered with by the prime minister. The conversation on this issue may be expected to be as hot as chili peppers. The prime minister has been in office over twenty years. He has abruptly decided that the oil royalty payments were wrongly given to all previous Terengganu state administrations, extending over a twenty-five year period. He strongly feels the oversight must be corrected. This truth came to his attention rather suddenly, while he was returning from a trip to Egypt. Something there perhaps jarred his memory.

The Malays are divided by various religious issues. The prime minister relishes his role as a spokesman for Islam, and he will certainly feel comfortable with the elders of PAS. The prime minister is so certain of his grasp of Islam that he considers himself capable of writing the sermon for every imam in the country for each Friday prayer. His competency at this is in question, as political topics seem to dominate. PAS feels that the imams have sufficient training to prepare and deliver a properly Islamic sermon. So this topic can be expected to be a spry one also.

The Malays are divided on the manner in which Malaysia's wealth is distributed. Many Malays feel left out of the largesse. Though the Malay majority has not been polled, and thus one cannot be absolutely certain in this instance, many do express an opinion that a close examination of the pockets of the prime minister and his family will help reduce suspicion and ill feeling regarding this matter. Full disclosure of the assets of the ministers will thus surely be a keen subject for the discussion. The prime minister, since he receives annual financial reports from all his ministers, will surely agree to reduce tension by revealing the innocent source of the fat fortunes of his family, friends and fraters.

The Malays are divided by the influence the prime minister exerts around the courthouse. The judges and prosecutors seem annoyingly anxious to please the prime minister in a pernicious performance of their duties. This fawning behaviour, combined with the diligence the police parade in propping the present political party in power, tells that the truth is more suppressed than surfaced. PAS will expect the prime minister to call a Royal Commission of Inquiry to investigate the facts behind many disturbing cases which now clog the dockets. In the interest of Malay unity the prime minister will certainly accede to this request.

The Malays are divided over the unfairness of the elections. Numerous allegations have been made that the prime minister and his party hold office illegally, having rigged the general election and also the three by-elections held since. Naturally the prime minister will give his undivided attention to this important subject. To restore Malay unity he will wish to first investigate all of the allegations of past abuse, to lay at rest once and for all time any question regarding his mandate to serve, and then to make the necessary changes in the Election Commission to ensure that nothing of this sort occurs to further divide the Malays.

The Malays are divided over the fact that peaceful assembly is not allowed for the opposition. PAS holds ceramahs daily around the country, and these are attended by thousands of Malays. Yet the administration takes the position that these are illegal assemblies and refuses to sanction them with a police permit.

The matter of holding ceramahs in mosques is troublesome. The prime minister demands that all mosque committee members answer directly to him for any activity in their mosque he finds detrimental to his position. PAS has a different view of the purpose of the mosque in Islam, and the discussion around this issue is certain to reveal a dock of difference and diversion.

Lots of other Malay unity issues are interesting to PAS. There are laws which contravene the spirit of the Constitution. The prime minister would certainly want to remove those. The police have been cruel in handling people arrested under those laws. They have been clumsy with their weapons. In their negligent handling of their guns innocent people inadvertently have been shot between the eyes. The prime minister will surely agree that this must stop, and give the necessary directives. All in the name of Malay unity, of course.

On the other hand, it is dreadfully difficult to think of a Malay unity issue or topic that would be of interest to the prime minister. What does he wish to discuss? Certainly he has something in mind. What on earth can that be? The inability to find an adequate answer to this puzzling question creates doubt the lunch may not take place soon. One recalls that the Umno party is more planner than producer. History thus says it won't happen at all.

Several previous opportunites to meet and debate have run aground before the guns could be loaded. These have led to catcalls of cowardice. If the prime minister now fails to lay a fine table for his Malay brothers, it will be taken as an affront, since the invitation is his. The invitation has been most graciously accepted. Delay will only cause the food to spoil, and there is already enough stench around Umno to turn a buzzard's beak.

The leaders of PAS will enjoy the surroundings of Putrajaya. They have previously stated an intent to dispose of them at auction when they take office. Such sumptuous surroundings may affect their decision, though it is not likely. But it is an opportunity to make an appraisal.