Bersih lauds Perak agreement and reforms as the way forward

 

Electoral reform group Bersih has lauded the confidence and supply agreement (CSA) between Perak Menteri Besar Saarani Mohamad and the state opposition.

It said this may have been the first CSA in Malaysia between the government and the opposition, and shows the way forward to address the political instability in the federal government.

“This is also a new norm and an example of mature political practice that should be normalised by political parties in the new era of Malaysian politics to deal with the fierce political competition about the number of seats held by the respective political parties...

“Bersih 2.0 has previously issued a statement that political parties need to achieve a CSA as one of the steps towards a democratic solution to the political polemics faced by the country on Oct 25, 2020, after the Prime Minister’s support was questioned on numerous occasions.

“The example set by Perak assemblypersons is a beacon to illuminate the path forward for national politics so that politicians can practice healthy, mature, and people-centred politics,” it said in a statement today.

The group said the move shows that the government and opposition in Perak prioritised political stability and the interests of the people and the country.

It also welcomed the reforms agreed upon by the state government, which would give the opposition a stronger role in acting as a check-and-balance against executive power.

“Politicians from the opposition and the government should be clear about their roles and responsibilities to the people and the country.

“Political stability in the country can only be achieved if politicians practice mature, healthy, and professional political competition.

“To achieve this, confidence and supply agreements based on institutional reform and parliamentary reform need to be implemented immediately. This country is our shared responsibility,” it said.

Yesterday, Perak assemblypersons including opposition members gave Saarani a unanimous show of support in a motion of confidence at the state assembly.

DAP's Aulong assemblyperson Nga Kor Ming revealed that this came after the opposition struck a deal with Saarani where the state government would introduce a slew of institutional reforms.

This would include ensuring equal constituency development funds for all assemblypersons, official recognition for the office of the opposition leader, and mandating that the state Public Accounts Committee is headed by an opposition assemblyperson. - Mkini