AN OPEN LETTER TO THE GUARDIAN
THE PATRIOTS
In your editorial piece published on 3 March 2020, you have called the change of Malaysian government on 1 March as a “royal coup” that overturned a “reformist coalition” elected by the people, hinting the tacit role of Yang Di-Pertuan Agong, Malaysia’s King in assisting the return of the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) to power.
Like the editors at The Guardian, we Malaysians too rejoiced over the historical political change in 2018. It was a testimonial to Malaysia’s ability to achieve democratic transition in an orderly manner, a reflection of the maturity and civility of its citizens.
Nevertheless, if you have been following the news close enough, the political quagmire over the past few days was an inevitable outcome of the fragility of the Pakatan Harapan coalition itself.
Consisted of a conservative nationalist Malay party (Malaysian United Indigenous Party or PPBM led by Mahathir and Muhyiddin), a liberal reformist Malay-dominant multiracial party (People’s Justice Party or PKR led by Anwar), a social democratic Chinese-dominant party (Democratic Action Party) and a reformist Islamist party (National Trust Party or Amanah)
This coalition of strange bedfellows was virtually unable to exercise its governing function properly for most of its 22 months in power due to endless disagreements and constant U-turns.
The coalition was finally imploded on 21 February following Mahathir’s refusal to hand over his office of the prime minister to Anwar during the Pakatan Harapan presidential council meeting.
After the departure of PPBM from the coalition and Mahathir’s resignation as the prime minister, Pakatan Harapan ceased to command majority support at the Lower House of Malaysia’s Parliament, effectively dissolved the Pakatan Harapan government.
Instead of being the instigator or enabler of the whole political drama, our King has exercised his constitutional power by reappointing Mahathir as the interim prime minister until a government is being formed.
The inability of MPs to agree on a coalition prompted the King to interview all 221 MPs to find out which prime minister nominee (Mahathir, Anwar and Muhyiddin) is likely to command the confidence of the majority of MPs, as per Article 43(2) of the Federal Constitution.
The King acted with the intention to break the deadlock. It was the indecisiveness of Pakatan Harapan MPs going back and forth between Mahathir and Anwar that gave Muhyiddin the edge to command the support of the majority of MPs and thus being chosen as the new prime minister.
There are winners and losers in politics, and not everyone is happy with every outcome including this. But to call the change of government as a royal coup is completely outrageous.
It was the King, with his judgment and enshrined position being above politics that actually has prevented the political infighting among Pakatan Harapan from destabilising the country.
In this regard, we seek your favour to correct the fact in your editorial and not to belittle our King, the foundation of our unique democratic institution.
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