Don't waste time on Fixed-Term Parliament Act, Zaid tells Azalina

 

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Azalina Othman Said has been urged not to waste her time on introducing a Fixed-Term Parliament Act (FTPA).

While noting that the FTPA has its advantages, former law minister Zaid Ibrahim believed that the law would cause chaos in the Madani administration, which is a coalition government that comprises 19 component parties.

“It will be a mess,” Zaid (above) said in a statement on X today.

“A large single party like the Conservatives or Labour controls the British government, and the fixed term is working because stability is assured, not by the fixed term but by the strength of the ruling party.”

However, Zaid said the FTPA will only bring about “artificial stability” in Malaysia.

Zaid, who is also a lawyer, alleged that the introduction of the FTPA is an attempt to “strengthen a weak single party” - PKR - using a fixed-term method.

“It’s like a party president who wants to rule but has no election.

“Here, the coalition is large and porous. Movements of members are inevitable. Democracy here takes time to mature,” he added.

‘Don’t be anxious to rule for long periods‘

He reminded those in power “not to be too anxious to rule for long periods by artificial means”.

“When you are good and well-liked by the people, that’s the fixed term you will get.

“(There’s) no need to legislate if you have a fixed term but because the controlling party, which is PKR, is small, there will be an internal struggle in the coalition. It’s a matter of time.

“Government will be chaotic, and yet we cannot have an election because of the fixed-term law,” Zaid said.

De facto law minister Azalina Othman Said

Yesterday, Azalina said the Legal Affairs Division will conduct in-depth studies to get public views on such legislation.

She added that an engagement session with stakeholders will also be held soon, with the findings to be then reviewed by the cabinet for policy-making considerations.

The Pengerang MP said this in a statement welcoming a proposal - to introduce a special bill that will ensure a government remains in power for its full five-year term - by Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi that hinted at an FTPA.

‘Real reforms’

Zaid did not mince his words when he said the enactment of an FTPA is not a reform, but a control to contain dissent.

Instead, he advised Azalina to focus on executing real fundamental reforms in the likes of repealing the Sedition Act 1948 and the MACC Act 2009.

“Do not weaponise institutions like the MACC. Make them independent.

“You can also mandate the attorney-general (AG) to give reasons whenever he exercises his ‘unfettered discretions’. It’s one thing to say AG has absolute discretion, but you can compel him to provide reasons.

“That’s real reform,” he said.

Further, he questioned if the purpose of amending Article 10 of the Federal Constitution - to restrict elected representatives’ freedom of association - so the anti-party hopping law could be passed, had been achieved.

“The political party constitutions are amended to compel obedience of party members to follow the diktats of the party leaders, but do we achieve any more stability in these parties?” he asked. - Mkini