MAY 27 — Newspaper editors have their front-page stories cut out for them the last two weeks courtesy of the deputy prime minister, the parliamentary speaker, the former prime minister and yes, the 11th Malaysia Plan too.
The political climate is now so volatile that reports are dissected every which way to justify the reading of a given situation.
Parliamentary Services Act 1963
The news on the sudden resignation of speaker Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Mulia was buzzing some 10 days ago. It was Tun Mahathir Mohamad who “let slip” this news.
In a press conference, Pandikar Amin explained his grouse was about the perceived non-independence of Parliament.
Malaysia adopts the Westminster style, which subscribes to the doctrine of the separation of powers, i.e. the Legislative, Executive and Judiciary, each being of similar status.
The French political philosopher, Baron de Montesquieu, argued against power being focused on a single entity through a monarch and promoted the tripartite system.
This system when implemented judiciously allows a “check and balance” to curb any excesses of power.
The repeal of the Parliamentary Services Act 1963 in 1992 rendered Parliament quite dependent on the Executive for its general administration. Earlier in 1988, the dismissal of the Lord President (now Chief Justice) and several Supreme Court Judges (now Federal Court Judges) resulted in the public perception the Executive had a higher status.
I think the furniture and the toilet highlight was just sensational journalism rather than Pandikar Amin’s real angst. However, I would fully agree Pandikar Amin could have applied a lot more finesse to present his case.
On whether Dr Mahathir should have disclosed on a private discussion, I think Pandikar Amin can’t be that naive.
He asked for Dr Mahathir’s advice and Dr Mahathir can choose to believe it was accepted. With Dr Mahathir’s open declaration on the prime minister, the adage — All is fair in love and war — becomes applicable.
As it is, the re-instatement of the Act appears to have bipartisan support. I think this a wonderful opportunity for the prime minister to act statesman-like. Who knows how many votes this is worth but it reasons he can’t lose votes.
But if his party rejects him, he can leave in blazing glory. It is time he stood up — that what is good for the country can’t be bad for his party, even if unpopular.
Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi had the chance with the Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission (IPCMC) but he let it pass. It is recklessly unfair for citizens to have to pray that the better policemen attended to them whenever they sought help.
While attending to the Legislative component of our tripartite system, we should also take a re-look of the Judicial Appointments Commission.
Presently, the prime minister appoints five of its nine members.
It suggests that concerns of the Executive have priority over the concerns for the Judiciary. A correction would only heighten the prestige of the Judiciary and the prime minister.
Going for the jugular?
Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin’s criticism of the 1MDB has been so strong that it is akin to an electoral campaign. It is very difficult to think it a mere difference of opinion from the leaked video clip of the closed-door meeting.
We must be witnessing the most open of subtleties and the loudest of shadow plays in the history of Umno. By convention, all political party deputy presidents defer to their presidents. And when this is breached, a leadership crisis emerges in one form or another.
Of course, the party crisis can be averted if the deputy steps down. Tun Musa Hitam stepped down when he felt he couldn’t be an effective No. 2.
On the surface, Datuk Seri Najib Razak has three-quarters support both from the Umno supreme council and from the division chiefs. He has the unanimous support of the BN supreme council.
What about his Cabinet? There is no neutral stance on this issue. Clearly stand by him or resign, or take a leave of absence. He’s made very clear he doesn’t plan to step down.
But the slugfest of supporters from both leaders has commenced.
It has been postured like a coup de grace on Najib is necessary to avoid Umno being brought down together. I suppose the players know best.
Isn’t the auditor-general scheduled to revert on 1MDB accounts some time in June?
But the no-show by the corporation’s CEO to the Public Accounts Committee hearing yesterday is unacceptable, all things considered. They are letting down Malaysia.
Postscript
I have been reliably informed that two PAS assemblymen — Saari Sungib and Hasnul Baharuddin — would stand by the Pakatan Rakyat Selangor state government.
So if their party president has designs to pull PAS out of the coalition, it would still be status quo. No hung assembly.
PAS has 15 assemblymen, DAP 15, PKR 13, Umno 12 and Independent one (Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim).
Last Thursday, a topical online news item was on Tan Sri Limkokwing being appointed the new public relations guru or spin master for Najib.
This was sparked by his appointment some months ago as the Special Programmes Coordinator for the prime minister.
Commenters talked about the mission being a lost cause, wasting his energy and such.
I am on good authority to say that while the appointment is true, it has no connection with the prime minister’s communications and public relations team.
Regrettably, the corporate black attire will not feature in the prime minister’s office just yet.
His assignments have been the same for the last 40 or so years.
They are about the promotion of the government’s public/social service programmes and abroad, on the nation’s resilience.
So if we must, then I would call him the spin master for Brand Malaysia, to the world.
I believe the Limkokwing University of Creative Technology has at least 12 campuses worldwide.
* This is the personal opinion of the writer and does not necessarily represent the views of Malay Mail Online.
