LET’S give credit where it’s due. Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob seems determined to implement significant reforms in his first 100 days as Prime Minister.
These are changes Malaysians, including the Opposition, have longed for in our political system.
Last week, the Cabinet agreed to cap the PM’s tenure at 10 years, and introduce the anti-hopping law, as well as offer recognition to the opposition.
While the PM never provided a time scale for the reforms, it’s imperative that Members of Parliament from both sides get down to drafting and amending laws to turn these changes into reality.
These reforms can’t be implemented overnight because the legal changes will take a while, but the PM must set a date to work towards this parliamentary and government transformation.
It’s a good start, and the swiftness in which he has pushed for the reforms has surprised me, because he could face resistance from his own party, which isn’t known to embrace the unconventional.
These changes would help evolve the Malaysian political system to become more mature and encouraging of bipartisan politics.
But let’s prioritise what to do. We need to give Ismail Sabri time and support to conduct more reforms.
There are many changes we want to see, including fair, if not equal, development allocation for all MPs, regardless of them being in the government or opposition.
Opposition MPs should be invited to sit in selected committees to ensure that everyone is accountable in addressing issues that concern the nation. Malaysians are tired of the adversarial antics that have become the hallmark of Malaysian politics.
But I am sure most Malaysians will agree that it is ill advised to appoint anyone, despite his or her experiences, to any position if the person is facing criminal charges or is being investigated.
It doesn’t matter if it is merely an advisory post with no executive powers, no ministerial perks or doing it for free. The point is that it is ethically wrong. There are over 30 million Malaysians, many of whom are much more talented and smarter, to choose from. Many would willingly work quietly for the nation without the fanfare and positions.
I am 60 years old, and I’ve covered politics and parliament in my 30-plus years as a journalist. In all that time, I’ve never seen such disdain for politicians by the people.
Our MPs are called Yang Berhormat (The Honourable) only by name because their voters don’t think they are, except their most fanatical supporters and sycophants.
The distrust of politicians also extends to our Rulers, although that’s not openly addressed.
At the end of the Rulers special meeting last month, a statement was carefully crafted and issued by the King, which said that Ismail Sabri will be the country’s ninth Prime Minister.
In the statement, Istana Negara said that based on the statutory declarations received on Aug 18 from 220 Members of Parliament, 114 had nominated the former Deputy Prime Minister.
Basically, the King, with the backing of the Rulers, was satisfied with the support obtained by Ismail Sabri.
The next step was the presentation of the instrument of appointment and swearing in ceremony, which played out the following day on Saturday, Aug 21, 2021.
The Yang di-Pertuan Agong, who wanted to return to Pahang on Saturday, had planned to swear Ismail Sabri in on Monday.
But the Rulers advised the King to make the swearing in a priority, suggesting he postpone his trip.
They didn’t want to wait any longer. Clearly, they were fed up with the politicians and wary of the possibility of some of the 114 changing their stand. They wanted Ismail Sabri to be officially sworn in as PM to end the impasse, power struggle and speculations.
The Rulers have remained unhappy with the incessant power play by politicians.
But two important details were absent from the statement by the King on Aug 20 – there was no mention of Ismail Sabri having to seek confirmation from the Dewan Rakyat.
There was also no reference of Ismail Sabri forming a unity government with the opposition, as suggested by some groups previously.
What was not said to the media is that this statement supposedly supersedes the previous statements by the King – that was the spirit and thinking of the Rulers who met on Aug 20. Of course, some have dismissed this as “hearsay” in the absence of an official statement from the Istana.
Then, there are contrasting legal interpretations from both sides of the divide on whether it’s necessary for the PM to face a motion of confidence in Parliament. Some have argued that it’s just a formality but wonder why the PM must face it at all.
But well-informed sources said the Rulers were generally tired of the political antics and attempted power grab by politicians. So, most Rulers have now resisted meeting politicians.
Except for the PM and the Menteri Besar and Chief Ministers, the Rulers are not inclined to listen to politicians, and in private conversations, the remarks they’ve used have been harsh.
The key words in the Aug 20 statement were – “the government must immediately continue its efforts against the Covid-19 pandemic for the benefit and safety of the people and the well-being of the nation, which has been greatly affected by this crisis.”
The King also hopes the new prime minister’s appointment will conclude the political crisis and that all MPs will set aside their political agenda and work towards addressing the pandemic in the interest of the people and the country.
“His Majesty reiterated that the people should not be burdened with endless political turmoil at a time when the country is struggling with health issues and economic depression due to the Covid-19 pandemic.”
The Malay Rulers also support the King’s stand that a stable government must be formed as soon as possible, following the resignation of the previous prime minister, it said.
The principles of Istana Negara and the Rulers have remained the same – political stability, fighting the pandemic and economic recovery first.
Last week, de facto Law Minister Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar said he believed that based on the support displayed by the 114 MPs for Ismail Sabri to the King, “Tuanku (His Majesty) consented that there is no need to have a vote of confidence.”
Wan Junaidi wouldn’t have had the audacity to make the statement if he didn’t have his facts right.
The test is also on our lawmakers – who have pledged to the King – to cast politics aside and work with the government to fight the pandemic and put the country’s economy back on track. And after that, they can slug it out in the general election, which isn’t far away.
Unfortunately, many of our lawmakers are quick to run to the King when they need him but do something else when it suits their political interests.
The special parliament meeting on Covid-19 was a complete waste of time because it degenerated into a shouting match and, worse, it caused the MPs’ aides and officials to be infected with Covid-19.
If many of us think that some of our Cabinet members are slacking and don’t deserve to be in the line-up, then it’s not a comforting thought that the quality and competence of some of our lawmakers – from both sides – are just as bad.
But because of our deep political allegiance, many of us are, unfortunately, not honest with our assessment. It’s always the other side that doesn’t perform sufficiently.
