Why Dr. Mahathir’s Government of Individuals is unacceptable…

Why Dr. Mahathir’s Government of Individuals is unacceptable to PH and unworkable in practice

First of all, I would like to thank Dr. Mahathir for clarifying publicly that one of the reasons why he stepped down as the 7th Prime Minister of Malaysia was that he could not accept having UMNO has part of the government. This principled stand taken was the reason why DAP initially wanted to invite him back to re-establish a Pakatan Harapan (PH) government as Prime Minister. However, Dr. Mahathir instead proposed that he wanted to form a government comprised of individuals from political parties and non-politicians. Here are some of the reasons why this proposal was unacceptable to the DAP and Pakatan Harapan and also unworkable in practical terms.

1) This new government would NOT be Pakatan Harapan led which is the coalition government voted into office by the voters in GE14
2) This new government would NOT be bound by the Pakatan Harapan 14th General Elections Manifesto (including the agreement to step down and hand over power to Anwar Ibrahim)
3) This new government would likely consist of individuals who were instrumental in bringing down the Pakatan Harapan government
4) There is no clear understanding of what policy commitments the new government would have.
5) There will be no accountability to the voters in the 15th General Elections (GE15)
6) The new government will not have a stable majority to pass laws in parliament
7) There will be no clear opposition or government in parliament.
8) Malaysia is a parliamentary democracy and not a presidential system like Indonesia or the United States

Let me explain each in turn…

1. This new government would NOT be Pakatan Harapan led which is the coalition government voted into office by the voters in GE14

The Malaysia voters gave a clear mandate in GE14 by voting into office 116 Pakatan Harapan (PH) MPs and 8 Parti WARISAN MPs from Sabah. It would not be right to ignore this mandate and to form a government that does not have the same mandate from the voters. Not having PH as the central component of any new government would be a betrayal of the voters’ mandate from GE14.

2. This new government would NOT be bound by the Pakatan Harapan 14th General Elections Manifesto (including the agreement to step down and hand over power to Anwar Ibrahim)

PH was voted into office because of our commitment to a common cause which is the GE14 PH Manifesto. PH remains committed to carrying out and implementing the promises made in this manifesto. This new government, because it is not a PH-led government, would have no obligation to any of the commitments of the GE14 Manifesto. Dr. Mahathir himself, if he were to lead this new government, would have no obligation whatsoever to the PH manifesto since it will be a totally new government under his leadership and by led by a cabinet which is NOT PH-centric.

There will also not be any obligation for Dr. Mahathir to step down before GE15 and agree to a transition to Anwar Ibrahim as the next Prime Minister as part of the PH agreement before GE14. Dr. Mahathir would no longer be bound to his earlier promise of stepping down after APEC to allow a smooth transition of power.

3. This new government would likely consist of individuals who were instrumental in bringing down the Pakatan Harapan government

Since Dr. Mahathir would have absolute power to pick and choose his cabinet members regardless of political affiliation,
he may very well end up picking individuals who were instrumental in bringing down the PH government in the first place. To ask PH leaders to sit in together in the same cabinet as those individuals whom many of us have labelled as ‘traitors’ and have been sacked from their parties would be unacceptable not just to the PH parties but also to our supporters and voters.

4. There is no clear understanding of what policy commitments the new government would have.

In his nationally televised speech yesterday, Dr. Mahathir mentioned that he wants to form a government that will be non-partisan which will prioritize national interests. While this may sound lofty and noble, practically speaking, there is no clear understanding of what these ‘national interests’ are. Under PH, the reference point for policies to be prioritized are those found in the GE14 PH Manifesto. Presumably, under this new government, policies of national interest will be determined largely by the viewpoints of Dr. Mahathir even if they may be against the GE14 PH Manifesto.

The notion of a ‘unity’ government is misleading since it is unclear as to what they will be ‘united’ by except that they (meaning the Cabinet) will be appointed by and led by Dr. Mahathir.

On a related note, some people may think that technocrats are better administrators and policy makers than politicians but this is not necessarily the case. Technocrats also have their own self-interests and political biases and may disagree on what policies represent ‘national interest’.

5. There will be no accountability to the voters in the 15th General Elections (GE15)

Right after GE14, we knew that PH would be judged by the voters in GE15 on our ability to deliver on our GE14 PH Manifesto. But if the new government has NO obligation to deliver the promises in the GE14 PH Manifesto, then we would not be able to hold ourselves accountable to the voters in the next GE.

Furthermore, the MPs who are appointed to Dr. Mahathir’s cabinet would not be accountable to their own political parties. For example, if they agree to a cabinet decision which is against the stand taken by their party, they would either have to resign from cabinet or they would have to resign for their respective parties. Over time, if this government can last until GE15, it would be comprised mostly of politicians with no party affiliation and non-elected technocrats.

6. The new government will not have a stable majority to pass laws in parliament

This is a practical challenge which the new government, if formed according to the principles outlined by Dr. Mahathir, will face in parliament. There is no guarantee that when his government presents any legislation in parliament that it will be passed. Any group of parties can potentially band together to defeat important legislation in parliament including the budget, for example. There is no obligation for any of the political parties to support government bills since the government is a non-partisan government. This government cannot even rely on individual parties to support its bills out of a desire to avoid a snap elections especially since the BN and PAS have openly called for snap elections to be held. In fact, a motion of no-confidence can be tabled during a parliament session and the government would have no assurance that it will not be passed.

In other words, the new government can fall anytime during a parliament session.

7. There will be no clear opposition in parliament (and no clear government parties too!)

While a government of capable individuals may sound nice on paper, it is against the spirit of parliamentary democracy. If Dr. Mahathir’s government were to be appointed, presumably it would comprise of MPs for almost all of the parties. But if individuals from all parties were to be appointed to the cabinet, who would play the role of check and balance in parliament? Who would be the opposition in parliament? It is not acceptable to say that individual MPs would play the role of opposition and check and balance because there is no public accountability via this process. There is no guarantee that these MPs will be fielded in GE15 in order to be accountable for their decisions in parliament and their parties cannot also be held account since there is no clear role for parties to be in opposition or in government.

8. Malaysia is a parliamentary democracy and not a presidential system like Indonesia or the United States.

Some people have pointed to Indonesia or the United States as examples of how a cabinet comprising of politicians and technocrats can be appointed. But these examples are from Presidential systems while Malaysia practices a parliamentary system. Presidents are directly accountable for the actions of their cabinet through presidential elections. In parliamentary systems, political parties have to face the voters in general elections.

Dr. Mahathir himself will not be accountable to the voters under his proposed government structure. Even if he wants to run for office again in GE15 (when he will be 98 years of age), which party will be run under?

Grand coalition or ‘Unity’ governments have been formed in parliamentary systems before most notably in Germany in the recent years but there has never been a government comprising of individuals from various parties which are not nominated by their own parties and does not necessarily have the support of their own parties to be part of cabinet. This reason why such a cabinet has never existed is because it is fundamentally unworkable and unstable.

These are some of the main reasons why Dr. Mahathir’s proposal of a government of individuals which is non-partisan is not acceptable to PH and frankly speaking, unworkable and unstable.

Dr. Ong Kian Ming
Member of Parliament for Bangi
27 February 2020

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希望联盟在第14届大选受人民委托当选政府,而民主行动党在此政治危机之时始终如一,遵守人民委托,继续维护与坚持在希望联盟合…

希望联盟在第14届大选受人民委托当选政府,而民主行动党在此政治危机之时始终如一,遵守人民委托,继续维护与坚持在希望联盟合作框架下组成政府。

敦马哈迪在星期一(2月24日)拒绝与巫统合作组成后门政府,这是可喜可贺之事,因为我们拒绝与腐败的盗贼政党合作。遗憾的是敦马在星期二(2月25日)提出组成大联合政府,并拒绝在希望联盟的框架下合作。事实上,大联合政府的模式并不适合马来西亚的国情,也与行动党的立场不一。

第一,大联合政府不是第14届大选受人民委托的模式,它并非在拥有民意基础的希望联盟框架下运作。大联合政府是由个别不同政党的国会议员支持敦马为首相而组成的政府。这也包括巫统、伊斯兰党和阿兹敏叛徒等人,根本与后门政府无异,希望联盟对此不能接受。大联合政府只会制造机会,让叛徒和盗贼重返执政。

第二,大联合政府的内阁成员等都是由首相个人提名决定,而非由政党提名,同时政党在国会的制衡角色也会受到影响。少了政党的制衡,这会导致首相的权力过大。

第三,大联合政府也会导致更多的政治危机。马来西亚以政党政治为主,而非个别国会议员,选民多为选党不选人。若个别政党的国会议员对大联合政府有者支持、有者不支持,将造成该政党分裂,进一步恶化政治稳定。

第四,大联合政府的下任首相会是谁?既然巫伊联盟和阿兹敏叛徒等人有可能在大联合政府内,他们会成为下任首相吗?下任首相可以在没有得到政党的支持下,依然像敦马般掌握多数国会议员的支持吗?若不获多数支持,那是否国家又要经历多一次政治危机呢?

第五,我们现在迫切需要的是一位尊重人民委托,愿意在希望联盟框架下领导政府,并且执行第14届大选承诺的领袖——安华。

民主行动党是希望联盟忠坚的一份子,继续守护人民委托,支持安华出任新首相。同时我们也愿意接受人民的考验,希望大家与我们共度难关。


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*PAKATAN HARAPAN MENYOKONG DATUK SERI AN…

*PAKATAN HARAPAN MENYOKONG DATUK SERI ANWAR IBRAHIM SEBAGAI PM KE-8*

Ahad, 23 Februari

Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad menolak untuk bersama Mohamed Azmin Ali dan Bersatu untuk membentuk sebuah kerajaan baharu yang disertai UMNO dan Pas.

Isnin, 24 Februari

Dr Mahathir meletakkan jawatan sebagai Perdana Menteri sebagai tanda protes.

PH berterima kasih dengan Dr Mahathir kerana teguh dengan prinsip untuk menolak daripada bekerjasama dengan mereka yang korup dari UMNO.

PH menyatakan sokongan kepada beliau untuk terus memegang jawatan Perdana Menteri untuk Kerajaan PH.

Selasa, 25 Februari

Namun begitu, susulan sokongan daripada semua parti politik agar Dr Mahathir terus menjadi perdana menteri, beliau berhasrat menubuhkan satu 'kerajaan gabungan individu'.

Ini bermakna, hanya Dr Mahathir yang akan berhak menentukan siapa yang menentukan siapa yang menjadi anggota Kabinet. PH dan parti politik lain tidak akan dirunding dalam proses ini.

Lebih-lebih lagi, kemungkinan besar senarai Kabinet yang dicadangkan oleh Tun Mahathir akan mempunyai nama-nama individu yang mencetuskan krisis yang dihadapi kini dan juga ahli-ahli Parlimen UMNO dan PAS.

Kerajaan berkenaan akan menjadi 'Kerajaan Mahathir' dan bukannya Kerajaan PH sekali gus janji-janji manifesto tidak dipenuhi.

Dr Mahathir sebenarnya telah dijemput menghadiri mesyuarat Majlis Presiden PH untuk berbincang mengenai isu tersebut namun ditolak Dr Mahathir.

Sehubungan itu, kepimpinan PH pada mesyuarat tersebut telah memutuskan untuk mempertahankan mandat rakyat yang diamanahkan kepada Kerajaan PH dalam terus memenuhi manifestonya dengan mencadangkan Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim sebagai Perdana Menteri

Kami menyeru semua rakyat Malaysia untuk menyokong pencalonan Anwar sebagai Perdana Menteri Ke-8 Malaysia, untuk menghormati mandat yang telah diamanahkan dalam PRU ke14 dan untuk memastikan kestabilan yang berterusan untuk negara.



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一周筹23万 感恩有您 血癌青年筹款活动达标 !|中國報

一周筹23万 筹款达标 感恩有你 ❤️ #祝早日康复
http://eastcoast.chinapress.com.my/?p=54245

一周筹23万 感恩有您 血癌青年筹款活动达标 !|中國報

(文冬25日讯)讚叹媒体与网络力量,26岁文冬血癌青年甘承峰陷财困的新闻透过媒体和网络广传后,病患及家属在短短一周,筹获23万令吉的医疗费,筹款活动今日正式喊停。 青

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通过我多次和通讯与多媒体部长哥宾星接觸与洽談,哥宾星答应把一项以原住民為主的國家級別大型演唱會引進文冬。主題為“我们的演…

通过我多次和通讯与多媒体部长哥宾星接觸与洽談,哥宾星答应把一项以原住民為主的國家級別大型演唱會引進文冬。主題為“我们的演唱會”。當晚除了有原住民表演,也有多位本地著名歌手到來獻唱,千萬別錯過。到時哥宾星和我也会到场進行開幕典禮。
日期:29/02/2002
時間:晚上9. 00
地點:文冬广场(文冬大草场)


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Merasmikan kejohanan olahraga kali ke 36…

Merasmikan kejohanan olahraga kali ke 36 di SMK Lurah Bilut.Melalui kegiatan sukan, bukan sahaja akan melahirkan murid sihat fizikalnya tetapi pelajar yang cerdas mindanya. Akademik dan sukan perlu diseimbangkan untuk menjamin masa depan para pelajar yang lebih cerah.
为美律谷国民型中学第36届运动会开幕。体育运动不仅可以强身健体,还可以修养心智。学业和运动必需保保持平衡,以確保學生們有更美好的未来。





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教育是迈向美好未来的唯一途径。…

教育是迈向美好未来的唯一途径。

日前我颁发了免费校车月费固本给97位来自B40贫穷家庭的学生。这些学生分别来自文冬6所不同的学校(SMK Karak, SK Karak, SJKT Sri Telemong, SJKT Renjok, SJKC Telemong and SMK Telemong)。他们大部分是來自乡区。

这一项计划全年总共耗资了30, 800零吉,都是来自希盟中央政府的选区拨款。

非常高兴看到他们露出灿烂的笑容。学生们所穿的制服都是善心人士所捐贈的。我会继续努力,鼓励更多善心人士去帮助有需要的人。




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Pendidikan adalah satu-satunya langkah k…

Pendidikan adalah satu-satunya langkah ke arah masa depan yang lebih cerah.

Saya berkesempatan menyempurnakan Majlis Penyerahan Pas Bulanan Perkhidmatan Van Sekolah kepada 97 pelajar daripada keluarga golongan B40 daripada enam sekolah (SMK Karak, SK Karak, SJKT Sri Telemong, SJKT Ladang Renjok, SJKC Telemong dan SMK Telemong). Kebanyakan mereka berasal dari estet.

Program ini menelan belanja sebanyak RM30,800 setahun dan dibiayai sepenuhnya melalui peruntukan Ahli Parlimen Bentong daripada Kerajaan Pakatan Harapan. Ini merupakan tahun kedua pejabat saya menaja program ini.

Sesuatu yang menggembirakan melihat keterujaan wajah mereka hari ini. Ramai yang berpakaian uniform baru yang merupakan sumbangan daripada pelbagai pihak yang berhati mulia. Saya akan terus berusaha untuk mewujudkan peluang untuk golongan yang berhati mulia ini untuk menyumbang kepada mereka yang memerlukan.

——
Education is the only way to a better future.

Presented the Monthly Passes for School Van Services to 97 school children of B40 families from six schools (SMK Karak, SK Karak, SJKT Sri Telemong, SJKT Renjok, SJKC Telemong and SMK Telemong). Most are from the estates.

This program cost RM 30,800 per year and is fully funded through the MP Bentong allocation from the Harapan Federal Government. This is the second year in a row my office is sponsoring this program.

So happy to see smiles on their faces today. Many were clad in new uniforms donated by kind hearted people. I will continue to create platforms for good people to contribute to those in need.




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