Harapan should wait till GE15 - analysts

Several political analysts believe that Pakatan Harapan should focus on preparing themselves for the next general election and not attempt to force another change of government soon.

Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (Unimas) senior lecturer Jeniri Amir opined that this was necessary to ensure national stability while the country faced an economic recession and the Covid-19 outbreak.

"I think, for political stability when we are facing the threat of Covid-19, we should not disturb Perikatan Nasional.

"(Harapan) should focus on the 15th general election and they should heed the advice of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.

"If they don't, it would give the impression that Harapan is really obsessed with power," he told Malaysiakini when contacted.

Additionally, Jeniri said Harapan should use the time it has now to improve itself.

"They should strengthen their ties among the component parties and state clearly who is their candidate for PM. Don't create a mess like before," he said.

Similarly, former Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) lecturer Ahmad Atory Hussain said Harapan should focus on fixing their own roof as he expects the next election to be not too far away.

He said history has shown that governments with slim majorities across the world tend to hold elections earlier than legally needed.

"It's better to focus on elections. Harapan should fix their manifesto and strengthen inter-party ties," he said.

For Atory (above), the motion of no-confidence filed by Dr Mahathir Mohamad against his successor Muhyiddin Yassin was unlike to bear fruit.

"It can be debated in (when the Dewan Rakyat sits in) July but to win the vote is difficult.

"Think of this analogy, if the police and military have set up barbwire in Selayang, Muhyiddin has set up barbwire around his government.

"We are now witnessing the fall of several Harapan state governments. That is Muhyiddin's strategy," he said.

As of Monday, Muhyiddin currently has, at best, 113 MPs on his side in the Dewan Rakyat with 222 MPs.

This means that it will be difficult to predict what will happen in the event Mahathir's motion is tabled, if at all.

Meanwhile, Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM) lecturer Mohd Azizuddin Mohd Sani said that Harapan has a chance of passing the motion against Muhyiddin.

Azizuddin (below), like the abovementioned analyst, said Harapan, however, would have to sort out their own internal problems first.

 "We are unsure of the PN government's policies.

"It's up to Harapan on whether they think there is a need to force a change of government should they believe they can fix the economy in a time of crisis," said Azizuddin.

Harapan is still reeling after being deposed in late February after defections by the bulk of Bersatu MPs.

PKR currently in the midst of purging members who were aligned to the coup leaders while DAP and Amanah appear to be attempting to convince Mahathir to return to the fold. - Mkini