By A. Kadir Jasin
SINCE the formation of Perikatan Nasional (PN) Government, dubbed the “kerajaan tebuk atap” (the government that came in through the roof) by PAS President Abdul Hadi Awang last year, Malaysia’s political system has effectively collapsed.
There isn’t any convincing sign that the impasse would be solved any time soon unless, by fluke, the Opposition Leader, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, has quietly garnered sufficient parliamentary votes to unseat the Prime Minister Tan Sri Mahiaddin Yassin.
In practical terms, the PN government has collapsed, both in terms of political legitimacy and the ability to rule effectively.
Its trump card move of getting the Yang di-Pertuan Agong to agree to the declaration of the state of Emergency has proven to be farcical.
His government has failed to use the Emergency to combat the spread the COVID-19 pandemic. On the contrary, it’s getting worse.
The parliamentary legitimacy of the PN has never been proven.
Except for the King and Mahiaddin, nobody knows how much support the Prime Minister had at the time of his swearing-in on March 2 last year.
On the other hand, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad had 114 votes via statutory declarations on the evening of Sunday March 1 but was unable to get an audience with the King.
There’s a slim chance that the support for Mahiaddin may become known when the Parliament resumes for a brief five-day session beginning July 26 after being hung since the declaration of the emergency on January 12 this year.
It’s a certainty that Mahiaddin would do all he could to stop his government from being challenged in the Parliament.
The political system can no longer be expected to solve the impasse. The animosity, hatred and selfishness among political leaders will not allow for an amicable solution. The Malaysian politics has become toxic.
This makes the call for the setting up of a caretaker government or a similar mechanism to oversee the administration of the country until a fresh election could be held, compelling.
Here the wisdom and impartiality of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong is key.
His Majesty would have known by now that the people are angry and many of them are also hungry. The Royal Institution is becoming the centre of attention and the beacon of hope.
Your Majesty has to act in the best interest of the country. – July 16, 2021.
A. Kadir Jasin is a veteran newsman.
The views expressed are solely of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Focus Malaysia.
