Raggie Jessy Rithaudeen
ڬابوڠن ڤمرينته بارو دجڠك هاري اين
Following are some of the most illogical and idiotic things said yesterday regarding what I regard to be the greatest political manoeuvre the world over, ‘Langkah Mahathir’.
“…actually, the Agong wants proof that Mahathir commands majority support before allowing him to form unity government comprising MPs from both sides.”
My take: If Tun Dr Mahathir Moahamad’s sole intent was to form a unity government, he would not have had to send party leaders to seek an audience with the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.
According to the Federal Constitution of Malaysia, The Yang di-Pertuan Agong is required to appoint a Cabinet to advise him in the exercise of his executive functions. He appoints the Cabinet in the following manner:
1. Using discretionary power, he first appoints as Prime Minister a member of the Dewan Rakyat who, in his judgment, is likely to command the confidence of the majority of the Dewan. There is no Constitutional requirement that the Prime Minister must be of any particular race or religion; and
2. On the advice of the Prime Minister, the Yang di-Pertuan Agong appoints other Ministers from among the members of either House of Parliament.
Read between the lines, and you will see just why the Federal Constitution of Malaysia is actually ‘party-blind’ insofar as the appointment of a Prime Minister goes.
So, as long as nobody challenged Mahathir’s majority in the Dewan Rakyat via constitutional means, the Agong simply cannot instruct him to step down or interfere with his constitutional rights as Prime Minister.
This includes the right to advise the Agong on the constitution of the Federal Cabinet even if it means the appointment of opposition Members of Parliament to said Cabinet.
As I understand it, there is nothing stopping the Agong from calling upon leaders of political parties for whatever reason as long as that reason is in the best interest of the nation.
Perhaps the Tuanku just wanted to be sure that these leaders are truly committed to the new coalition Mahathir seems bent on establishing given that the coalition enjoys majority representation in Parliament and can qualify as the new ‘ruling coalition’.
So you see, everything that happened yesterday was probably formality based on some convention established somewhere via the Westminster parliamentary system.
But that’s just my take on things…
“The Agong can stop Mahathir from forming a new government and decide to dissolve Parliament tomorrow (today, the 24thof February 2020). If the Tuanku does so, we will have a general election.”
May take: This is stupidity at best.
Like I said, as long as nobody challenges Mahathir’s majority support in the Dewan Rakyat, the Agong simply cannot instruct him to step down or interfere with his constitutional rights as a Prime Minister.
I’ve also explained the rights of the Prime Minister insofar as the appointment of Cabinet Ministers go even if it means the appointment of opposition Members of Parliament to said Cabinet.
Under the circumstances, the dissolution of Parliament may only occur if and when the Prime Minister requests the Agong to do so.
“This is exclusive for idiots…The PM was nowhere near the National Palace today (yesterday, the 24thof February 2020).”
My take: Actually, that was very rude of the individual who wrote that post.
Truth is, there was far too much speculation being tossed around here and there, that so much so, even the media was confused as to where the Prime Minister truly was.
The politicians are to blame for this. They should have appointed a spokesperson to communicate something or other with the media to prevent the rumour mills from chugging at overdrive.
Notwithstanding, should the aforementioned individual be correct, it goes to show that Parliament isn’t likely to be dissolved by the Agong today, meaning, whatever is happening is probably leading towards the establishment of a new ruling coalition.
