KUCHING – A Sarawak activist is calling on the Borneo bloc of Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) and Gabungan Rakyat Sabah to support the formation of a minority government with Pakatan Harapan (PH) chairman Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim at its head.
With no party or coalition able to command a simple majority, Peter John Jaban said this model, practised in other countries with hung parliaments, will allow Malaysia to move on from the current stalemate while also honouring the results of the 15th general election (GE15).
“It also creates the context for good governance and intra-party cooperation, going forward.”
He also said minority governments are an established feature of the parliamentary system when no clear majority has been achieved.
“Canada, Australia, Sweden, Norway, Belgium, and Spain, among others, have had minority governments. Minority governments mean our elected representatives have to work harder to produce and pass legislation that works for all parties.
“Each bill must be negotiated on the floor and so minority interests can be catered for. This is a good reflection of the diversity of opinion currently seen in Malaysia in this election and a model for good governance.”
Jaban added that since the GE15 result showed no clear majority for any coalition to form a new government, the solution should be to bring the matter to Parliament and have MPs decide in the open on who has majority support to become new prime minister.
Once determined, the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, in accordance with the federal constitution, can appoint the prime minister who then picks his cabinet.
“The people can observe how each party responds to each bill and then make informed choices at the ballot box. Parties that seek to merely disrupt proceedings for their own political benefit will be punished by the electorate at the next election.”
Jaban added that a minority government would be good for Malaysia at this time.
“The prime minister and cabinet will need to work hard to persuade the competing forces in Parliament to support him, bill by bill.
“This can only be good for the people of Malaysia at this time. It will allow progress from this stalemate to settle the markets and to move the business of government forward for the good of the people. It can allow for plurality in policy.”
The formation of a new government is still in the works, four days after GE15 was held on Saturday.
The Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah this morning met the heads of Barisan Nasional and GPS. The king yesterday met the heads of PH and Perikatan Nasional.
The palace is seeking to determine which coalition can get the support of at least 112 MPs, the simple majority needed out of Parliament’s 222 seats, to form a government. – The Vibes, November 23, 2022
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