Political betrayal, treachery, and political hara-kiri in Malaysia

Muhyiddin gained extra strength when Mahathir on national television suggested an apolitical unity government. Although the idea was taken up by a few naïve political commentators, the symbolism of Mahathir’s suggestion indicated he had no other weapons left in the toolbox.

Finally, the biggest failing of the PH government was not failing on reform but failing on the economy. People in the rural heartlands and cities alike were suffering, with little sign of relief. The PH ministers, enjoying the trappings of office, started forgetting why they were there. The cronyism and rent-seeking that sank the Barisan government returned, and talk in rural coffee shops was about the strains of living, rather than political reform and corruption. 1MDB was just dragging on, where nobody was really understanding the media reporting. In the Malay heartland, a Muhyiddin government with a familiar UMNO, PAS, and old UMNO cadres in PPBM are seen as hope.

What this crisis has shown is that today Malaysia has a deep political chasm, which will always lead to divisive and adversarial politics. Half of Malaysia today feels betrayed, have of Malaysia today feels saved.

In the above light, the decision of the Agong in selecting Muhyiddin Yassin and prime minister according to Article 43(2)a “…..the (King) shall first appoint as…Prime Minister……who is in his judgement is likely to command the confidence of the majority of the members of the house’, is sound. Prime ministers can’t be changed by whim, and the politicians themselves failed to maturely approach this constitutional procedure. In fact, they made it extremely difficult for the Agong to perform his duty. The correctness of the Agong’s decision can only be tested on the floor of the parliament, not with SDs, not through press conferences, and leaking lists to the media.

This political crisis is far from over. We are about to enter the second phase when parliament reconvenes. There will be a troll propaganda war, plenty of political comment, amidst the assembling of a new government that around half of the electorate despises, and the other half waits to be recused.