KUALA LUMPUR (May 17): On the eve of the first Dewan Rakyat session since the change of government in February, the two main political coalitions today issued statements laying down their objectives.
While the ruling Perikatan Nasional (PN) announced that its component parties have formalised the previously loose coalition with a memorandum of understanding (MoU), the opposition Pakatan Harapan (PH) expressed concern over the current political and economic landscape.
PN forms MoU, pledges to realise the goals MA63
Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu), Barisan Nasional (BN), PAS, Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS), as well as Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) and Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku (STAR) said in a joint statement that they supported the formation of PN, which took over Putrajaya last February by supporting Bersatu president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin as the prime minister.
“Bersatu, BN, PAS, GPS, PBS and STAR support the formation of PN through a joint venture among the political parties,” the statement said.
Towards that end, the MoU has been formed with five objectives, it said.
The objectives include strengthening the spirit of sharing and togetherness among Sabah, Sarawak and Peninsular Malaysia to realise the aspirations and objectives of the Malaysian Agreement 1963 (MA63).
PN also pledged to uphold the federal constitution, the institution of Malay rulers, the Rukunegara, and the interests of Malaysians regardless of ethnicity and religion.
On top of that, the coalition also pledged good state and federal administration to ensure harmony and to improve the nation’s economy, as well as to strengthen racial unity.
The coalition also pledged to adopt a practice of deliberation and consultation, based on mutual respect towards the diversity in religion, ethnicity and culture.
The six political parties under PN collectively control 111 seats in the Dewan Rakyat. Also in support of the ruling coalition is the sole MP from Sabah-based UPKO.
The statement comes one day ahead of the one-day Dewan Rakyat sitting scheduled tomorrow, which only has the opening speech of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong in the agenda following a decision by the federal government.
The half-day session also means that the Dewan Rakyat will miss the motion of no-confidence vote against Muhyiddin that was filed by former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and allowed by the Dewan Rakyat Speaker.
PH says its priority is to retake govt
Separately, the PH coalition pledged to retake its position as the federal government and questioned the legitimacy of the present government.
In a statement, which was also signed by Parti Warisan Sabah and former prime minister Dr Mahathir, who is also the Bersatu MP for Langkawi, the opposition stood by its stance that the Parliament must be in session for a longer period.
The statement was issued after a top leadership meeting between PH, Warisan and Dr Mahathir — who the statement addressed as Bersatu chairman — which was chaired by PH chairman and PKR president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, who has also been recently named as the Opposition Leader.
“The meeting collectively agreed to increase efforts to return the people’s mandate with the priority of taking over the government.
“This is because the meeting agreed that there is a question of the government’s legitimacy, due to the failure of Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin to test his support among members of Parliament tomorrow,” the statement said.
The opposition also reiterated calls to debate the RM260 billion economic stimulus package, as well as the recent appointments of political leaders from PN to the top posts in government-linked companies.
Seating arrangement to shed more light on Bersatu split
The Dewan Rakyat has already established the latest seat positions, which will provide some clarity towards the position of Bersatu and its members in the current political landscape.
While Dr Mahathir signed off as Bersatu chairman, the faction of the party that is part of PN is disputing his chairmanship, and even his membership in the party.
The faction has warned that members will be kicked out if they are not aligned with the party’s objectives — which, for now, seems to be aligned to PN considering that on the surface, Muhyiddin controls majority support in the party.
Another interesting development is the resignation of Datuk Seri Mukhriz Mahathir as the Menteri Besar of Kedah after two PKR assemblymen resigned from the party and subsequently Pakatan Harapan.
Mukhriz, who is Bersatu deputy president, previously had the majority support of Kedah state assemblymen from PH, despite the separation of Bersatu from the coalition at the federal level at the time.