BARISAN Nasional (BN) may not have realised this, but they are disrespecting the decree of the former Yang di-Pertuan Agong for the main political parties to form a national unity government after the last general election.
This is to safeguard stability and security after the traumatic events of the pandemic and ensuing political chaos.
Former PKR Balik Pulau parliamentarian Mohd Yusmadi Yusoff made this observation after reports indicated that BN may enter into a partnership with Perikatan Nasional (PN) for the Negeri Sembilan state election.
Yusmadi, who is now an Asean regionalism advocate, reminded that PN under Bersatu and PAS together with Gerakan had rejected the unity call from the King in 2022, but BN had remained loyal to the respect of a constitutional monarchy and ceded to accept a unity government formula with Pakatan Harapan (PH).
It then drove the Sabah and Sarawak coalition groups to also agree, he added.
The same principle is also applicable to the civil service, which, by conventional wisdom, needs to carry out directives of the national unity government, Yusmadi said.
With three prime ministers within the span of less than five years, the King had then decreed to the present Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to best accede to a unity government to strengthen the economy by having political stability first, not to mention security, said Yusmadi.
"I think stability should reign for now until the mandate to restore stability and sustain the economy is realised. Stability means casting aside polarised politics and focusing on nationhood - growing the economy amidst a stable setting."
The unity government is less than four years old, and efforts to turn the country into the once stable fortress and an example in the region are ongoing but complicated by geopolitics such as the Middle East conflict, said Yusmadi.
"We must be mindful that we co-exist in a globalised world. What happens elsewhere can impact us, and it is happening from the rising living costs brought on by disruption to the global supply chain and the fuel prices," said Yusmadi.
BN - PN alliance also means undermining the goodwill of tolerance among the diverse groups, who together form this foundation of stability, he said.
He said Anwar had realised he stands to lose political clout by cooperating with Umno, a former bitter rival, but it is a royal decree; it is something the royal class wanted for the nation, and its intentions went beyond partisan politics with the honourable aim of restoring stability.
And the facts speak for themselves - voters should be judging the Unity administration not just for its inability to execute reforms but also the plus points, such as the globally recognised Moody's Ratings review.
A stronger ringgit versus regional currencies and the US greenback, while job creation has continued, although there are downslides such as the rising living costs, concerns over climate change and racial harmony, he said.
He pointed out that the Moody's Ratings (Moody's) has completed its periodic review of Malaysia's sovereign ratings.
Malaysia’s long-term local and foreign currency issuer ratings remain at A3, with a Stable Outlook.
These strengths, together with Malaysia’s large domestic investor base, continue to support the Government's financing needs, mitigate liquidity risks, and keep borrowing costs at moderate levels.
Yusmadi said that the unity administration deserves to be given up to a near full term to bring back stability before a fresh national election can be called.
"What's the rush when the economy continues to grow despite the external challenges. But if we persist in wanting to drop it all, we then risk going back to the status quo of constant disruption."
Yusmadi pointed out that BN and PN have both interchanged political partners constantly since the 2018 general election; the two coalitions were also instrumental in having served up three prime ministers in less than five years.
Yusmadi also singled out the need for "sincere politics" and not manipulation, as if one comes into power by way of deceit, one would probably need to rely on falsehoods to remain in power.
"In the end, the nation suffers from the lack of transparency and honesty in leading the country forward," added Yusmadi. – July 17, 2026
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