.jpg)
By Mihar Dias (C) Copyright November 2023
A recent statement by Bersatu secretary-general Hamzah Zainudin, questioning the stability of Anwar Ibrahim's government, sheds light on a precarious political landscape.
According to Hamzah Zainudin, the current government lacks a majority, citing a decline in approval ratings compared to the previous administration.
Hamzah emphasized that the Pakatan Harapan-led government, with only 82 parliamentary seats, holds a meagre 36.1% approval rating for the unity government.
In contrast, Perikatan Nasional, the former ruling coalition, enjoyed a higher approval rating of 49.3%. These numbers, he contends, signal vulnerability and raise concerns about the government's ability to retain power.
Furthermore, Hamzah drew attention to historical parallels, pointing to Anwar Ibrahim's past advocacy for changing the government based on claimed majority support. He cautioned against dismissing efforts to challenge the current administration, citing Anwar's own involvement in similar actions, particularly the Sept 16 movement.
While Pakatan Harapan secured 82 seats in the 15th general election, the delayed oath-taking by Anwar due to a hung Parliament has added complexities to the government's legitimacy. The coalition's unity government, formed in collaboration with Barisan Nasional, Gabungan Parti Sarawak, and Gabungan Rakyat Sabah, aims at consolidating support with the inclusion of MPs from Warisan, Parti Bangsa Malaysia, and the independent bloc.
Hamzah's commitment to improving Bersatu's approval rating above 50% in the coming years underscores the party's determination to strengthen its position.
However, the assertion that Bersatu MPs under extreme pressure pledged support for the government raises questions about internal cohesion and potential fissures within the coalition.
As the political landscape continues to evolve, the fate of Anwar's government remains uncertain. The dynamics of approval ratings, historical precedents, and internal party dynamics will undoubtedly shape the future trajectory of Malaysian politics.
Only time will reveal whether the government can weather the current challenges or if a change in leadership looms on the horizon.
Oh, how we long for political stability.
Mihar Dias is a content creator under the Newswav Creator programme, where you get to express yourself, be a citizen journalist, and at the same time monetize your content & reach millions of users on Newswav. Log in to creator.newswav.com and become a Newswav Creator now!
The User Content (as defined on Newswav Terms of Use) above including the views expressed and media (pictures, videos, citations etc) were submitted & posted by the author. Newswav is solely an aggregation platform that hosts the User Content. If you have any questions about the content, copyright or other issues of the work, please contact Newswav.
