Sticking to a time-tested non-starter
Why would any of the PN partners abandon Muhyiddin? A failure on the part of Muhyiddin has the potential of leading to the Parliament being dissolved and paving the way for a snap election. It is no secret that this is the route preferred by most Umno leaders and that is especially pertinent with the likes of Najib and those facing dozens of cases in the courts.
Shamsul Akmar, The Malaysian Reserve
DETRACTORS of Datuk Seri Mohd Najib Razak are banking on the High Court’s decision at the end of July to be his Waterloo. Despite that, there’s also a lingering doubt that something may not follow such script and he escapes conviction, and instead, be on track for a major political comeback, at least that’s what his supporters are hoping.
Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin’s political future is also being closely watched come next week’s parliamentary sitting.
His motion for the removal of the highly popular Speaker is expected to test the extent of support he has from Umno, PAS and allied forces, and at the same time, tests the unity of purpose between the Pakatan Harapan (PH) coalition and its allies.
Several possibilities are being speculated — firstly, Muhyiddin gets his motion across and that will diminish doubts that he does not command the majority.
Secondly, if he fails in his bid, that will reaffirm the suspicions that he does not command the majority and that he should resign. The only way for him not to have the majority will only occur, based on the numbers on paper, when its partners from the loose Perikatan Nasional (PN) coalition choose to abstain or even vote against the motion.
The question would then be why would any of the PN partners abandon Muhyiddin? Again, a failure on the part of Muhyiddin has the potential of leading to the Parliament being dissolved and paving the way for a snap election.
It is no secret that this is the route preferred by most Umno leaders and that is especially pertinent with the likes of Najib and those facing dozens of cases in the courts.
While this scene is being speculated, the PH, comprising PKR, DAP and Parti Amanah Negara, is expected to demand that the government be returned to them and their choice of prime minister (PM).
The problem is that the choice of PM is only decided by PH and not its allies that are expected to deliver the numbers.
Pakatan Plus (the acronym used to denote PH and its allies — Parti Warisan Sabah, Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia faction opposed to Muhyiddin, and MPs from several other parties from Sabah and Sarawak) have a collective number which is supposed to be just shy of two to three MPs to wrest the majority from PN.
