PERIKATAN Nasional (PN) has failed in their basic duty of being the opposition to the present unity government.
Nusantara Academy for Strategic Research senior fellow Prof Dr Azmi Hassan said PN have failed in providing the check and balance for the federal government.
“They have forgotten their duty of being the opposition. They were more interested in getting people to support them to form a government,” Azmi told FocusM.
“PN has failed to demonstrate to the people that they are a capable opposition who can provide the check and balances for the unity government.
“They as the opposition have put their own interest ahead of those of the voters, which now reveals their failure.”
Azmi said although PN had made the announcement of forming a shadow cabinet on Sunday (Feb 11), it is a little too late.
He pointed out that rather than carrying out their duty as the opposition in the last one year since the Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim-led unity government was formed, PN had instead put all their efforts into playing the numbers game in their attempt to form a government.
He said they have failed miserably in this endeavour by the fact that six Bersatu MPs had recently expressed their support for the unity government.
“To be able to form the government they, PN, must show that they can do the duty of a good opposition by providing the checks and balances against the government,” Azmi reckoned.
“The leaders and MPs of Pakatan Harapan (PH) showed their capability of being in the opposition after the PH government lost power after the Sheraton Move.
“PH leaders instead of moaning their loss of power got on with the job being a healthy opposition by providing the necessary check and balances to the PN government.”
He said they were able to show what type of government they could be once they were back in power.
Azmi said PN were more interested in playing games than being a good opposition and serving the people.
He said at the end of the day what is important to the voter is MPs who put the interests and needs of their constituents ahead of their personal interests.
“PN leaders have abdicated in their duty and are more interested in self-promotion than helping the voters,” he added.
Citing the welfare of their constituents, six Bersatu MPs had recently declared their support for Anwar, namely Datuk Syed Abu Hussin Hafiz Syed Abdul Fasal (Bukit Gantang), Zahari Kechik (Jeli), Mohd Azizi Abu Naim (Gua Musang), Datuk Iskandar Dzulkarnain Abdul Khalid (Kuala Kangsar), Datuk Suhaili Abdul Rahman (Labuan), and Datuk Dr Zulkafperi Hanafi (Tanjong Karang). – Feb 12, 2024
Main pic credit: Malaysiakini
