By Abdul Rashid Hasnol
WHENEVER the country’s nine Malay rulers meet outside their scheduled thrice-a-year calendar, something major is almost always brewing. The last such meeting was in October 2020, when the Conference of Malay Rulers snubbed Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin’s request for the Yang di-Pertuan Agong to declare an Emergency.
The request was purportedly to allow the Government to contain the COVID-19 pandemic, although many believed Muhyiddin was using it as an excuse to prolong his tenuous stay in Putrajaya. The rejection by the Malay rulers, who still wield massive influence in the country, was a slap on the face of the eighth Prime Minister.
This Wednesday, the Malay rulers are meeting again. This follows a series of four-eyed meetings between the Agong and presidents of major political parties in Malaysia. Such meetings between the sovereign and leaders of parties from across the political divide, was unprecedented.
Istana Negara has announced that the royal households will deliberate on the COVID-19 pandemic, which has spread out of control, save for a marginal dip in new infections over the past few days. Also said to be on the agenda is public disquiet over speculations that the Emergency, scheduled to end on Aug 1, will be extended.
With the public, and even political elites, uncertain on how the Conference of Malay Rulers meeting will pan out, speculations have gone into overdrive. A news portal ran a story that Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein from Umno will become the next Prime Minister.
Soon after, a letter purportedly signed by Umno president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi sacking Hishammuddin from the party went viral. Hishammuddin, the cousin of disgraced ex-PM Datuk Seri Mohd Najib Razak has pooh-poohed the speculations and the “letter” was confirmed to be a fake.
These have done little to douse speculations as the debate continues to rage online over whether or not Hishammuddin was suitable as he’s not only from Umno, but does not hold any senior post in the party and is related to 1MDB-tainted Najib to boot.
Speculations are also mounting that the Malay Rulers will want the Emergency to end as scheduled on Aug 1 to restore democracy, following the suspension of legislative meetings since January.
While the move can enhance the check-and-balance mechanism, there’s also fear that a Dewan Rakyat meeting can lead to a motion of no confidence against the Prime Minister.
If carried, the motion can trigger a snap general election. Under normal circumstances, a poll would be necessary for the voters to decide the occupants of Putrajaya, considering the current administration lacked the legitimacy, having seized power through political realignments and not through the ballot box. But based on last year’s Sabah election experience, it may lead to spikes in COVID-19 infections and deaths.
Amid all these, two-time PM Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad at 95, told the Agong that he had offered himself to lead a National Operations Council (Mageran). Having been on the political scene for over 60 years does not seem enough for the elder statesman, who refuses to fade away.
These only add uncertainty to Malaysia’s political climate and deter the very investors we badly need to kick-start an economy badly battered by COVID-19. At the end of the day, it’s the voters who are badly hit by the games political elites play.
And regardless of when polls are held, voters should hold it against those who dice with peoples’ lives and livelihoods and teach the power-hungry politicians a lesson at the ballot boxes. – June 13, 2021
Abdul Rashid Hasnol is a FocusM editorial contributor.
The views expressed here of solely of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Focus Malaysia.
