MPs represent voters, not parties or themselves

 

The behaviour of the MPs from Warisan to be absent during bloc votes to pass budget allocations in Parliament is very upsetting. Some may even say that their conduct reflects immaturity and irresponsibility.

Instead of joining forces in solidarity against Pakatan Nasional, they are contributing to the disunity and possible disintegration of Pakatan Harapan by boycotting.

The only thing they have achieved by their boycott is weakening the coalition partners and sadly, even destroying the unity of Pakatan Harapan beyond repair.

This is definitely a time to strengthen the position of the opposition – certainly not weaken it by such irresponsible behaviour.

Further, is this a responsible conduct by a party that was supposed to represent their voters in Parliament? Shouldn’t their unwavering responsibility be to the voters who elected them?

To the Warisan MPs: “Shouldn’t your anger be directed against the traitors who nullified a democratically elected government and took over the governance of the country through the backdoor?

“They stole our government – your duty is to defeat them and install a government of the people, by the people and for the people. This should be your resolve and responsibility.”

The Warisan whip in Parliament, Rozman Isli (above) has made it clear that their bloc vote absence was “a deliberate move to display their frustration (and anger)” with opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim, whose last-minute change of strategy resulted in the Budget 2021 being passed.

Like many others, the Warisan MPs seem to hold the very unrealistic view that if a block vote had been forced on Nov 26 at the policy stage, the budget would have been defeated.

If the numbers were indeed there last Thursday, how do we explain the humiliating defeat suffered by Pakatan Harapan the last two days – Nov 30 and Dec 1 – when their call for a block vote failed to favour them?

On three occasions, they lost! On three occasions, they only had 95 MPs siding with them – and no more. This clearly establishes the fact that there was no majority with Pakatan Harapan to defeat the budget at the policy stage.

I’m not saying that Anwar should be beyond reproach; I’m not defending his last-minute instruction when the budget was put to the vote – that was wrong by all counts. But why is the focus on Anwar when our total attention should be on Malaysia and its welfare?

May I appeal to all of you, Warisan MPs, this is not the time for pettiness; this is the time for consolidating for a larger responsibility.

“The vote is the most powerful nonviolent tool we have.” – John Lewis.

Don’t waste it – use it wisely.

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P RAMAKRISHNAN is a former president of reform movement Aliran. - Mkini

The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of MMKtT.