Unity govt can work only with clear terms, say analysts

 

Muhyiddin Yassin tried to get cross-party support in a last-ditch bid to keep his government afloat, but his attempt was shot down.

PETALING JAYA: A unity government will only work if all the kinks are worked out beforehand, and transparent policies outlined without any discrimination, says a political analyst.

For a unity government to work, the new prime minister must have support across the board, said academician Azmi Hassan.

All major political parties must be assured of their rights in the government. “Only then can a unity government be successful,” he told FMT.

The idea of a unity government was first floated in February 2020 when it was proposed by Dr Mahathir Mohamad after the collapse of the Pakatan Harapan government that he had led.

He invited rival political parties to link up as no political leader then had majority backing in the Dewan Rakyat. However, his proposal was rebuffed.

Muhyiddin Yassin was appointed as the prime minister in March 2020. He resigned yesterday after he lost majority support, and now leads a caretaker government until his successor is named.

Muhyiddin had also tried to obtain cross-party support through a confidence and supply agreement with opposition parties, offering to implement political reforms in a last-ditch bid to keep his government intact. But his proposal, too, was shot down by all parties.

Azmi said a stable unity government could only be formed with prior agreement on ministerial portfolios in the new Cabinet, to avoid the mistakes made by Perikatan Nasional.

“Drawing up a pre-Cabinet agreement on portfolios is crucial to avoid any disputes later. Everything has to be clear and transparent,” he added.

Socio-political analyst Awang Azman Pawi said Malaysia cannot be run by political leaders of one race as was largely the case with Perikatan Nasional.

“The new government needs people of all races so it will have a solid majority from the various parties,” he said.

He suggested that the Yang di-Pertuan Agong use his royal influence to nudge the parties into a unity government. Without royal intervention, Umno might not want to work with PKR and DAP, in line with a decision by the party’s general assembly in March not to work with opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim and DAP.

Awang Azman said a unity government would ensure that the new prime minister had a solid majority to take the nation forward, unlike the continuous political crisis faced by the PN because of its slim majority.

Analyst Kenneth Cheng said a unity government remains in uncharted territory but could be workable if it is result-oriented. “They need to focus on the health and economy,” he said, adding that mental health remained a major issue after months of lockdown.

The new government should also have a fixed date for the next general election. “They should not make the mistake of saying GE15 will be held once Covid-19 is under control,” he said. - FMT