PKR deputy president Rafizi Ramli has called the results of the 15th general election (GE15) is a “blessing in disguise” as it had forced all political parties who were once rivals to sit down at the same table and prioritise the rakyat ahead of their own personal disputes.
Breaking his silence on the unity government for the first time, Rafizi called the results of the GE15 “unique” insofar that no single coalition had managed to secure the minimum 112 majority in the Dewan Rakyat, which had resulted in a hung Parliament for the first time in Malaysian history.
“The political impasse could only be resolved when the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah had decreed for Barisan Nasional (BN) to form a unity government with Pakatan Harapan (PH),” he said in a video on TikTok yesterday (Dec 4).
“At the same time, Perikatan Nasional (PN) had rejected any form of cooperation of PH [with PN chairman Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin signing a document and stating that the coalition did not agree to work with PH].”
Rafizi further claimed that PN had acted “dishonestly” when it claimed to have the majority to form the federal government, adding that it was a “replay” of the Sheraton Move.
The Sheraton Move in 2020 saw BN, Bersatu, PAS, and a faction led by PKR’s then deputy president Datuk Seri Azmin Ali joining forces to topple the 22-month-old PH government, which had eventually led to Muhyiddin being appointed as the country’s eighth prime minister.
According to Rafizi, PN’s failure to “steal” MPs from other parties had led to plenty of dissatisfaction, which had then led to some derogatory name-calling from the coalition which he said is expected to continue “for the next few weeks”.
He said those who were unhappy with the formation of Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s unity government should ask Muhyiddin and PAS president Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang about the decision to turn down the Agong’s proposal to form a unity government with PH.
“Isn’t the act of turning down the Agong’s proposal going against what PN has been campaigning, in wanting to safeguard the Malays and their institutions?” he questioned.
He further urged naysayers to question the use of passing the anti-party hopping law if it were to be discarded to pursue personal desires to become the government of the day.
“Doesn’t Muhyiddin realise that if he continued to play the game like he did in the Sheraton Move, he may well become the shortest-serving prime minister?” he said.
@rafiziramli #rafiziramli #pakatanharapan #barisannasional #anwaribrahim #perikatannasional #kerajaanperpaduan ♬ An emotional and happy song (long) – bunka
Meanwhile, Rafizi clarified that his role as one of PH’s negotiators in forming the unity government had previously prevented him from issuing any statements due to the confidentiality of the matter.
“Confidentiality is crucial to not further complicate the situation. For now, my advice to everyone is to put the rakyat first,” he said.
“Putting the rakyat first allows for political stability which would allow for the government to last for the next five years [until the next general election] and would therefore allow the opportunity for the government to implement effective policies without any interruption.
“The goal of the government elected by the people is to improve the country’s economyto make the rakyat’s lives better.”
The general election on Nov 19 led to a hung Parliament. A few days later, the Yang di-Pertuan Agong consented to Anwar’s appointment as prime minister following discussions with the Malay rulers.
The PKR president now leads a unity government comprising PH, BN, Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) and Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS).
Anwar also has the support of MPs from MUDA, Warisan, Parti Bangsa Malaysia, Parti Kesejahteraan Demokratik Masyarakat and two independents which he said gives his government a two-thirds majority in the Dewan Rakyat. – Dec 5, 2022
Main pic credit: Harian Metro
