Will MPs cast the vote?

(The Ant Daily) – Whether there were many Malays present at last weekend’s mammoth Bersih 4.0 rally or not, should not be seen as an issue, PKR Youth leaders point out.

Instead, the big question is: How many Members of Parliament (MPs) would vote against Prime Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Najib Tun Razak in Parliament?

PKR Youth deputy head Dr Afif Bahardin says there was a sizeable presence of Malays but much smaller than in previous rallies since PAS opted out of it. PAS has the capacity to bring in the numbers since their membership alone is over one million.

“We already forecasted that the Malay numbers would be small. But essentially, it is a Malaysian rally, and the Bersih numbers show that the people have spoken. Now, it is the MPs’ turn,” Afif says.

The Penang executive councillor says the MPs must consider the proposed no-confidence motion against Najib because a high number of voters want changes.

Now is also the time for the country to move past racial politics and focus on the greater good, he says.

And it starts with removing Najib, who Afif says is the biggest stumbling block to positive changes.

“We have to reform how we conduct politics, how we win support or manage the economy. If we continue with the status quo, we are only inviting problems. Look at our economy now.”

Concurring with Afif’s views, the wing’s head Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad says the impression given on the Malay turnout depended on where one was present throughout the 34-hour long rally.

Near the Sogo shopping complex and the mosques, there was a huge congregation of Malays, says Nik Nazmi.

And he agrees with Afif that the MPs must now enter Parliament with a clear conscience.

Nik Nazmi confirms that there were suspicions among the Opposition that “incentives” may be accorded to the BN parliamentarians to disassociate themselves from the motion.

Therefore to overcome it, the people and civil society need to convince their MPs to support them.

There should be petitions and the use of the social media to push the MPs to vote along the lines of the needs of the people, Nik Nazmi says. 

For the motion to work, the proposer needs at least 30 MPs from BN to support it before it can be passed.

It is envisioned that DAP and PKR with 65 MPs will be on the same page and a few aye votes would come from the PAS moderates, who have announced their formation of a new Islamist party.

Therefore, about 70 MPs are likely to support the motion at this juncture but the big unknown hovers around the remaining 151 elected representatives with Najib left out of the equation.

The ruling Barisan Nasional coalition has 134 MPs with Umno (88), PBB (14), MCA (7), PRS (6), MIC (4), PBS (4), SPDP (4), Upko (3), Gerakan (2), PBRS (1) and SUPP (1).

The Opposition DAP has 37 MPs, PKR (28), PAS (22), PSM (1) and TERAS (1), and there is one Independent MP.

But the odds are high as Najib continues to wield control over Umno with its dominant share of 88 parliamentarians.