I would like to lead the country with a clear mandate, the support of the majority of MPs. I am confident of obtaining it (confidence). If I can’t, then I will accept the will of the people.
– Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim
Today is Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim unity government’s D-Day.
Malaysia’s 10th Prime Minister will know whether his administration is halted in its tracks prematurely, or it gets to continue a little longer or finish the full term. He faces a crucial vote of confidence to secure support in Parliament.
The confidence vote is among several important items on the agenda when Parliament meets for the first time today following the 15th general election last month.
On Nov 24, Anwar pledged to table a motion of confidence in Parliament shortly after being sworn in as prime minister.
Come to think of it, the confidence vote is unnecessary – and not required by law – as he already enjoys a clear majority in Parliament.
Together with his Pakatan Harapan’s (PH) 82 seats, Anwar has the support of Barisan Nasional (BN), which contributes 30 seats; Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) – 23 seats; Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) – six; Warisan – three; Persatuan Kebajikan Dialiasis Malaysia (PKDM) – one; Malaysian United Democratic Alliance (Muda) – one; Parti Bangsa Malaysia (PBM) – one; and two independents for a total of 149 seats, meeting the threshold for the two-thirds ‘supermajority’ in Parliament.
Anwar’s insistence on a confidence vote in understandable. It will allow him to lead the country effectively with a clear mandate and enable him to concentrate on resetting the country’s fractious politics, healing the racial divide and reviving the economy.
It will also shut Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin’s once and for all — hopefully. The Perikatan Nasional (PN) chief had questioned the prime minister’s majority support claim and challenged the latter to call for a confidence vote.
As Anwar aptly put it: “From a legal aspect, it (vote of confidence) isn’t needed. The attorney-general (AG) has also said that it is not needed because of the clear majority and the powers of the King are also clear.
“The King took the views of the AG into consideration and asked whether I felt a vote of confidence was needed as there was a clear total as well as declarations from Pakatan Harapan, Barisan Nasional, Gabungan Parti Sarawak, Gabungan Rakyat Sabah and several other smaller parties.
“I replied, ‘Ampun Tuanku, this is not only about regulations and law. The matter has been brought up and I would like to lead the country with a clear mandate, the support of the majority of MPs. I am confident of obtaining it. If I can’t, then I will accept the will of the people’.”
The prime minister is setting a good precedent for the country’s future leaders to emulate. Anyway, it’s Parliament’s duty to reinforce support for the prime minister’s legitimacy – and it’s about time Parliament played that role!
Anyway, going through pass records, an early confidence motion tabled by a sitting prime minister is not something new. In 1976, Tun Hussein Onn, the third prime minister, called a confidence vote days after taking office following the death of his predecessor Tun Abdul Razak.
Of course, it can be argued that Hussein took charge when the ruling BN coalition had a clear parliamentary majority.
Nevertheless, Anwar has won the admiration of the ordinary citizens who view the confidence vote as a bold move to resolve the infighting that has beset national politics.
I have no doubt that the prime minister will sail through today’s vote of confidence, especially after four political coalitions pledged their support to the unity government on Dec 16.
The support was sealed through a memorandum of agreement between the unity government coalitions signed by secretaries-general of each political party, namely Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail (PH), Datuk Seri Zambry Abdul Kadir (BN), Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi (GPS), Datuk Loretto Padua (Warisan) and Datuk Seri Marsidi Manjun (GRS).
The agreement was also signed by coalition leaders Anwar (PH chairman), Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi (BN chairman), Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg (GPS president), Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor (GRS chairman) and Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal (Warisan president).
Beyond surviving the confidence vote, Anwar has a lot to do.
He has to steer the nation’s economy into calmer profitable waters and to address the rising cost of living.
The more serious issue is whether he will be able to retain the support of the coalition MPs, especially from some of the 30 MPs from BN. Initially, about 10 of Zahid’s 30 BN colleagues had openly objected to any form of cooperation with Anwar.
But fortunately for Anwar, the BN chairman managed to keep BN intact. Hence, the prime minister’s decision to reward Zahid with one of the two deputy prime minister’s posts despite strong objections from several quarters.
Despite the ‘brilliant’ move to win BN’s support, Anwar has to be wary that any wrong move in dealing with BN and the parties from Sarawak and Sabah Sarawak – GPS, GRS and Warisan – is a sure recipe for disaster as there is always a danger that these coalitions may make a U-turn should they feel unhappy.
Anwar has to constantly keep looking over his shoulders to make sure his coalition partners, especially from Sarawak, are happy.
So far, Anwar has made concessions to Sarawak by appointing a deputy prime minister from Sarawak and making another four as full ministers. GPS has six deputy ministers in the Cabinet.
For the sake of the country, let’s pray all turns out fine today in Parliament.
