Is unity govt the way forward?
Unhappiness with the BN government for its unfulfilled pledges to curb corruption and cronyism and its seeming inability to resolve racial and religious grievances — complaints that caused a swing in support to the opposition — is still running high.
ZUBAIDAH ABU BAKAR, The New Straits Times
THE political "tsunami" is still making waves, albeit on a smaller scale, and the cry for reform continues to be heard at the same decibel level as a year ago.
| Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah believes the Barisan Nasional formula is not working any more |
With a looming economic crisis and increasing unemployment, it appears that a full recovery from the March 8, 2008 general election could take some time.
Given the current environment, a call by the president of Pas recently for a unity government to put aside political differences and tackle the ailing economy should not come as a surprise.
Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang thinks a more stable arrangement than the ruling Barisan Nasional is needed to run the country.
Eyebrows were raised, including those in his own party. Its leaders have until now refrained from making any comment on Hadi's proposal because they need an explanation from the man himself.
Hadi came back from an overseas trip on Saturday and chaired the party's central committee meeting yesterday, during which he was to explain the kind of unity government he had proposed during an interview with an online news portal and the Pas-linked tabloid Siasah about a fortnight ago.
"It is the president's opinion that the country will be better administered under a unity government, given the almost equal support given by Malaysians to BN and Pakatan Rakyat," the official said.
He was quick to add that Hadi was not pushing the idea on his party or on Parti Keadilan Rakyat and the DAP, Pas' allies in Pakatan Rakyat.
"Of course, any further action after Hadi publicly made the suggestion will only be taken if PKR and DAP agree," he said.
There was no outright rejection from Pas or Pakatan leaders, and Hadi considered this a positive development, an aide said.
Hadi has been toying with the idea for some time as he is convinced that a unity government is the answer to what he considers the country's myriad problems.
Unhappiness with the BN government for its unfulfilled pledges to curb corruption and cronyism and its seeming inability to resolve racial and religious grievances — complaints that caused a swing in support to the opposition — is still running high.
A close aide of Hadi's said the Pas leader had wanted to raise the unity government idea when debating the Royal Address in Parliament.
He had spoken for about 50 minutes and amid constant breaks in the flow of his delivery, time became a constraint and the idea was not properly expressed.
Except for Wanita Umno chief Tan Sri Rafidah Aziz, who thinks the BN should reject any talk of a national unity government between BN and Pakatan, other leaders have not dismissed the notion out of hand.
It is said that behind closed doors, some Pas and Umno leaders, concerned with the political and economic uncertainties, admitted that a unity government could be what Malaysia needs.
After all, it was noted, the burying of the hatchet between the alliance and opposition parties had led to the birth of BN in 1973, although Pas left the new coalition later.
The then unity government was the result of a commitment by political parties for a more stable Malaysia following the 1969 race riots after a general election which saw the Alliance lose its two-thirds majority in Parliament.
Last year, BN lost its two-thirds majority and Pakatan Rakyat secured 82 of the 222 seats.
Informal discussions took place within Umno circles after veteran leader Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah echoed Hadi's call.
Arguing his case in his blog, Razaleigh expressed his belief that the negotiated power-sharing which had held the multiracial coalition together since independence had stopped working.
"There is a real danger of our falling into a long-term loop of decline, with job losses, crime, social conflict, institutional breakdown and political instability feeding on each other.
"Our problems are fundamental and must be faced immediately.
"But BN cannot do this alone."
