WATCH ALSO: TOK MAT HASAN BUKAN PILIHAN GANTI ZAHID
Raggie Jessy Rithaudeen
AMANAH’s Khalid bin Abdul Samad, better known as Khalid Samad, almost has what it takes to be the next Prime Minister.
I say this in response to Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s assertion that Perikatan Nasional’s candidate for the Kemaman parliamentary seat, Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar, is qualified to become a prime minister in the future.
I have no qualms about Samsuri’s credentials or his suitability for the job.
As a matter of fact, his composure and humble personality imposes a curious damp propriety on his credentials.
But there are those who think that Khalid Samad is also fit for the job, if not for one thing – his failure to speak up while the country gets dragged down the pit by his own people.
So here’s the thing – there may be many potential Prime Minister candidates out there unwilling to speak out for some reason or other, perhaps to avoid ruffling feathers with their party ‘overlords’.
I know of several prominent lawyers and politicians from both sides of the divide who agree with me on this.
Be that as it may, anyone who aspires to be the Prime Minister or is thought to be a suitable candidate couldn’t possibly sit still while Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim sets the country on a crash course with catastrophe.
Khalid has his lips sealed tight, raising concerns that his priorities in politics are nestled in expedience, not principles. Most Members of Parliament share this trait, and therein the problem.
A Prime Minister candidate must be able to call out the government on its failures, particularly when the brand of governance threatens to roll the country back some 20 years both economically and politically.
Khalid would have to step up to the task even if it means flying in the teeth of PKR and the DAP.
His failure to do so is the only reason I cannot bring myself to say that Pakatan Harapan has a potential candidate to replace Anwar as Prime Minister.
The only logical recourse left is for the Yang Di-Pertuan Agong to pave the way for the establishment of a new government as soon as possible to save Malaysia from irreversible damage.
There is no need to wait for Members of Parliament to make up their minds given the gravity of the situation, what with the economic, currency and food crises and all, threatening to ruin the country.
If the Yang Di-Pertuan Agong truly feels that a change of government is warranted, constitutionally, there is no requirement for His Royal Highness to wait for a ‘vote of no confidence’ or what have you.
Being the Head of State, all His Royal Highness needs to do is to instruct each and every Member of Parliament to seek an immediate audience, presenting them with an opportunity to air their “honest views” on the current state of affairs.
Should the audiences invoke confidence in the Yang Di-Pertuan Agong that the majority agrees the government has failed and that the country is in a state of Emergency, His Royal Highness can declare a State of Political Emergency and arrest the powers of government.
Such a manoeuvre would undoubtedly be diplomatic, speedy and “all inclusive,” and the Yang Di-Pertuan Agong would not be accused of unilaterally deciding on a State of Emergency or interfering in politics.
The Yang Di-Pertuan Agong can then proceed to establish a National Operations Council (NOC) or a variant thereof, vested with sufficient powers to administer the country while Members of Parliament decide on an alternate solution.
The NOC will continue to administer the country until the 16th general election or such a time that a new Prime Minister candidate is agreed upon by the majority, whichever comes first.
