PH’s involvement in recovery council not just window dressing, analysts say

KUALA LUMPUR – The potential involvement of Pakatan Harapan leaders in a bipartisan National Recovery Council (NRC) and other sections of the government will have a substantial impact on the country’s Covid-19 battle and economic recovery efforts, said observers.

Dispelling notions that such a cooperation is merely window dressing, political analysts said this comes with the condition that the opposition is assured that its roles carry weight, and that its opinions are taken into account in the government’s policies and initiatives.

Universiti Utara Malaysia’s Prof Mohd Azizuddin Mohd Sani told The Vibes that this means opposition leaders must consider and negotiate NRC’s terms of reference prior to their participation.

“From there, we can see and know of any valuable contribution by anyone who joins it, particularly the opposition.

“The government can give certain (decision-making) roles to opposition leaders to formulate policies to deal with Covid-19 and address the economy. This is why recognition of the opposition’s contributions is essential.”

Politicians from both sides of the divide – including PKR’s Fahmi Fadzil and Umno’s Datuk Seri Abdul Rahman Dahlan – lauded the prospect of bipartisan cooperation mooted by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob to combat Covid-19 and address the economic crisis.

The leaders signalled that Ismail Sabri’s move to extend an olive branch to his political rivals will help cool the political temperature, and is in line with the Yang di-Pertuan Agong’s decree for the people to be prioritised especially amid the pandemic.

Following their meeting with Ismail Sabri this week, PH leaders – PKR president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng and Amanah president Mohamad Sabu – indicated their willingness to not stand in the way of a confidence vote on Ismail Sabri when it is tabled in the Dewan Rakyat next month.

The support comes with the condition that the government continues its cordial working relationship with the opposition to ensure people-centric initiatives are delivered, said Anwar.

Universiti Malaya Centre for Democracy and Elections director Assoc Prof Hamidin Abd Hamid echoed Azizuddin’s sentiments, saying the opposition’s involvement in decision-making processes will have an impact on the government.

“It will definitely have an impact not only when they (opposition) are participating at the committee level, but in other sections of the government as well.

“There should be no problem for the government to allow the opposition to hold posts in task forces. What’s most important is the person or people they select to join them.”

He said the opposition’s participation in NRC is not dissimilar to the arrangement in the Parliamentary Accounts Committee, which is traditionally chaired by an opposition lawmaker.

Certain jurisdictions must be set to allow opposition MPs to have an influence on policymaking, he said, adding that the government must ensure their voices are heard.

“The challenge is not the terms of reference (set by the government). If they (the government) are sincere, they will make sure opposition leaders’ opinions are taken into account.”

He said the opposition could play a pivotal role in the pandemic battle and economic recovery even without holding cabinet posts, by providing checks and balances to the executive.

Hamidin noted that even if the cooperation lowers the political temperature, it may not necessarily change political behaviour.

“It is still too early to see any change in behaviour, but it’s the right time to start. Is it going to change? Maybe not soon, but it is a starting point, and with regard to Covid-19, the government should not stop at the council, but expand it (cooperation) to other branches.

“As for Malaysians, they can definitely see it as a positive sign for the country in moving forward.” – The Vibes, August 27, 2021