Fixed-term bill will flout freedom of choice, says Abang Jo

 

Sarawak premier Abang Johari Openg said the Federal Constitution provides for freedom of choice among the people and MPs. (Bernama pic)

PETALING JAYA: A proposed bill to ensure the federal government remains for a full term will go against the principle of freedom of choice, says Sarawak premier Abang Johari Openg.

Abang Johari, chairman of the ruling Gabungan Parti Sarawak, said any move to determine the ruling government must not be based on coercion, the Borneo Post reported.

Commenting on deputy prime minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s proposal for a bill to prevent attempts at changing the government, Abang Johari said such a law “may not be compatible” in light of MPs’ freedom of choice.

“I don’t know the background of whether such a law can be implemented – I would leave that to the legal experts because our Federal Constitution provides for freedom of choice.

“That means we cannot use coercion, but we can use certain rules to keep the political situation in check as democracy is based on the people’s freedom of choice,” Abang Johari was quoted as saying.

In making the proposal yesterday, Zahid mooted a bill whereby a government formed after a general election would remain in power till the end of its five-year term.

The Umno president said such a bill was important as it would allow an elected government to administer the nation without being threatened by its political enemies.

Zahid’s proposal differs from recent calls from civil society leaders, who suggested the introduction of a Fixed-term Parliament Act similar to a now-repealed law enacted in the United Kingdom in 2011.

The 2011 law set a default fixed date for general elections, removing the prime minister’s discretion in setting the election date to prevent snap polls. It was repealed in 2022.

Calls for a fixed-term Parliament have arisen in the wake of three changes of government since the 2018 general election.

In February 2020, the so-called Sheraton Move led to the collapse of the Pakatan Harapan government, following the exit of several MPs from PKR and Bersatu, then a PH partner.

GPS had backed Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin as he went on to form the Perikatan Nasional-led government, and later backed Umno vice-president Ismail Sabri Yaakob who formed a new government when Muhyiddin resigned in August 2021. - FMT