Malaysia needs a competent PM, not a compromise candidate

 

It’s a hectic time for politicians and a nail-biting time for us, the citizens.

Leaders of political parties are busy holding meetings and taking calls as they manoeuvre and scheme to be the next prime minister or claim a stake in the next Cabinet, now that Muhyiddin Yassin’s resignation appears imminent.

The prime minister is expected to have an audience with the Yang di-Pertuan Agong today and then announce his resignation, according to reports, including one which quotes minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (special functions) Mohd Redzuan Md Yusof as confirming this.

We’ll know for certain today whether this is true.

In a desperate bid to stay in power, Muhyddin, on Aug 13, invited parties in the opposition to bolster his government with offers of reforming the government and its institutions. This included limiting the term of the prime minister, introducing an anti-hopping law and letting more opposition MPs sit on Parliamentary select committees.

There is much speculation on social media about who will be the next prime minister, but three names are getting top billing: Anwar Ibrahim, Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah and Ismail Sabri Yaakob.

Pakatan Harapan says there is only one candidate – Anwar. It insists that any party which wants to work with it and form a government must accept Anwar. We can be sure that PH leaders are busy negotiating with parties and MPs from parties outside the coalition to make this come true.

Umno, which pulled the rug from under Muhyiddin when about 15 of its MPs quit supporting him, thus axing the slim minority he had in Parliament, is also busy talking to MPs and other parties to let it head the next government. Razaleigh is one of those said to be in the running from Umno.

Perikatan Nasional is reported to be getting statutory declarations signed in support of Ismail so that even if Muhyiddin resigns, the coalition will remain in power. Ismail, of course, is still an Umno member although he refused to follow Umno’s call to its MPs to drop support for Muhyiddin. His chances of making it will depend on Umno giving support, which is not likely.

But the gambits and strategies of these politicians can only go so far because, in such a situation, it is the Agong who decides who should be the next prime minister based on the process laid out in the constitution.

The King will be guided by Article 43 (2) (a) of the constitution which states that the Agong shall appoint as prime minister “a member of the House of Representatives who in his judgment is likely to command the confidence of the majority of the members of that House”.

The question is, therefore, who can convince the King that he has majority support.

It is possible that none of those wanting to be prime minister can convince the King that they have majority support. It is also possible that the King may tell Muhyiddin to continue until the scheduled sitting of Parliament on Sept 7 for a vote to be taken to decide who actually has majority support.

This will be the second time the King will face such a dilemma, the first last February after Dr Mahathir Mohamad resigned as prime minister and the PH government collapsed.

Amid all this scheming and jostling for power, the politicians seem to have forgotten the people they are supposed to represent: the citizens. They don’t seem to care about us, although they use our name – the rakyat – to give credence to their schemes.

There are only two groups of politicians: those who want to stay in power and those who want to gain power. Right now, with the battle reaching its peak and the aroma of power thick in the air, they are going for the kill.

We can only hope and pray that something conclusive and good will result so that everyone can then pay attention to alleviating the suffering of the people.

Whatever government emerges must have a strong majority, not a slim majority or we may find ourselves in another quandary. It is no use having a lame-duck government when we are facing serious challenges, chief of which are the Covid-19 pandemic and economic recession.

Malaysia does not need a compromise prime minister and a compromise Cabinet. It needs a competent prime minister and a competent Cabinet. We need people who know what to do or are fast learners, not seat warmers. This is the chief criterion, given the current dangerous situation.

Malaysia needs a prime minister who can command the respect of its citizens – including business leaders, industry players, workers’ unions and rights groups – so that everyone will put their shoulder to the wheel to overcome the pandemic and revive the economy.

Malaysia needs a prime minister who will also command the confidence of foreign nations and business entities so that investments will start flowing in. This is important to ensure employment for at least some of the 800,000 jobless Malaysians and to increase exports of products, including new products.

There should be no place for sentiment in the appointment of any new Cabinet. Whoever becomes prime minister will be failing the people if he makes Cabinet appointments based on the loyalty of someone or the other or based on the strength of the parties forming the coalition. That can wait after the general election, although it’s still not a good idea.

The people want to see a government that hits the ground running, not a government that carries so much baggage that it falters and falls. We’ve had enough of that.

We want to see a prime minister who is a doer, not just someone who thinks his position gives him the right to enjoy the perks that come with it, or someone who takes the opportunity to enrich his relatives and cronies, or someone who grabs the chance to solidify his power base. We’ve had enough of that. And with the current calamities buffeting the nation, we can’t afford that.

We need a prime minister with fresh ideas who is able to inspire confidence, execute plans effectively and be the country’s best salesman. - FMT

The views expressed are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect those of MMKtT.