Coalition pact can’t keep govt from falling, says analyst

 

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s Cabinet at its first meeting on Monday. (Bernama pic)

PETALING JAYA: An analyst has poured cold water on the Putrajaya administration’s plan for a coalition agreement among the parties in the unity government.

The pact, due to be signed next week, could not stop the federal government from being toppled, said Oh Ei Sun of the Singapore Institute of International Affairs.

He said people would probably compare it to the confidence and supply agreement (CSA) signed by Pakatan Harapan and Ismail Sabri Yaakob when Ismail was the prime minister.

Oh told FMT he believed the CSA, dubbed a memorandum of understanding between PH and Ismail’s government, would not have held up if challenged in court.

“After this similar CSA or so-called coalition agreement is signed, I think coalition partners could just as easily withdraw from the government,” he said.

“It won’t hold up in court because the Federal Constitution has provisions for freedom of association. And freedom of association means political freedom.

“You cannot restrict people’s and parties’ political freedom by means of such CSAs or coalition agreements.”

He said all PH could do to keep the other parties from turning against the government would be to ply them with government positions and projects.

Barisan Nasional secretary-general Zambry Abd Kadir has said the final draft of the agreement would be ready soon.

PKR deputy president Rafizi Ramli said the agreement was to safeguard the government’s stability, with the parties agreeing to have Anwar Ibrahim’s administration remain for one term.

Another analyst, Awang Azman Pawi of Universiti Malaya, disagreed with Oh, telling FMT he believed the agreement would help ensure the government’s stability while giving clarity to the administration’s direction.

“Otherwise the government might not last more than six months,” he said.

Awang Azman said PH would also need to ensure the security of BN, Gabungan Parti Sarawak and Gabungan Rakyat Sabah from threats coming from inside or outside the government.

He said the agreement would need to show how the government could resolve internal disputes between parties and address the possibility of an en bloc defection from the government bloc and also the possibility that stubborn individuals might not want to toe the party line.

“Also, party views and criticisms should be conveyed internally rather than openly through the media,” he added. - FMT