The Yang di-Pertuan Agong must appoint Pakatan Harapan chief Anwar Ibrahim as the 10th prime minister as the latter’s coalition has secured the highest seats in the just concluded general election, said former attorney-general Tommy Thomas.
Citing an example from United Kingdom’s 1974 general election which resulted in a hung Parliament, he said Queen Elizabeth invited the leader of the coalition that has the highest seats to form a government.
Therefore, in Malaysia which shares the Westminster system of Parliament, Thomas (above) stressed that Anwar must be given “the first bite of the cherry” and made prime minister.
“The Agong must appoint Anwar as prime minister. That is what happened in the UK.
“In 1974, although there was no one coalition which secured a simple majority after the UK general elections, Harold Wilson who was the leader of the largest party was appointed as prime minister.
“Let Anwar have enough time to seek allegiance and form government,” he told Malaysiakini today.
Quoting another example from UK’s 2010 general election, Thomas said the Conservative party secured the most seats (306 seats) and its then leader David Cameron was given the chance to form a coalition with the Liberal party (57) which then formed government.
“The government was not formed by the Labour party, which came in second with 258 seats, and the Liberal party as they are losing parties. This is a classic example of a hung Parliament after general election.
“The Queen appointed Wilson as prime minister in 1974, fact. Then in 2010, Cameron was appointed as prime minister, also a fact.
“The Agong must appoint Anwar as a fact.”
For the record, Harapan secured 82 federal seats (including one seat won by electoral partner Muda), making the coalition the largest single bloc.
The GE15 tally also showed Perikatan Nasional trails behind with 73 seats followed by BN with 30 seats and GPS (22).
Meanwhile, Warisan has won three seats, KDM (one), PBM (one) and independent candidates won two seats.
The simple majority needed to form government is 112 seats.
Use of SDs should be avoided
Thomas also criticised the idea of using statutory declaration (SD) from MPs as proof that one coalition has enough numbers and support to form the government.
“The use of SDs has caused so much turbulence in Malaysian politics recently and it should be avoided at all costs after last Saturday’s general election,” he stressed.
PN chairperson Muhyiddin Yassin said he will reveal SDs from MPs who support him to be prime minister.
It was reported yesterday that the king had decreed that leaders of coalitions and political parties must inform Istana Negara of the agreed coalition to form a government by 2pm today.
Leaders were also asked to submit the name of their respective prime minister candidate by then. - Mkini
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