It was no surprise that Perikatan Nasional chairman Muhyiddin Yassin had come out with all guns blazing in rejecting the recent draft Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) offered by PM Anwar’s Madani government.
For context, it would appear that the MoU was intended to be a tradeoff of sorts for the opposition MPs to finally receive the “long overdue” government allocation for their constituents.
However, in a stinging rebuke in his Facebook page recently the Pagoh MP alleged that some of the conditions in the MoU were deemed “unconstitutional” and a restriction on freedom of speech.
Most significantly, he pointed to a section prohibiting MPs from discussing race, religion, and royalty, aka “3R” whereby such discussions were deemed to incite hatred.
Muhyiddin also criticised the MoU for barring MPs from making statements perceived as discriminatory based on “other identity" which he argued conflicts with Asian values and which according to him may prevent MPs from opposing future government policies on LGBT rights. But couldn’t he have just asked for that particular clause to be removed?
Meanwhile, earlier his Bersatu colleague Hamzah Zainudin had also said that among others the MoU's terms seem to conflict with the Federal Constitution and may risk undermining Malay and Bumiputera special rights as well as clashing with Malaysia's traditional values.
However, in a move to counter Hamzah’s allegations Deputy Prime Minister Fadillah Yusof had proceeded to disclose the contents of the draft document; according to him, since the opposition had voiced its criticisms of the MoU through the media, likewise it was necessary for him to disclose drafts of the document to the media in order to prove the transparency of the Madani government.
Fadillah further explained that the MoU was intended to foster a harmonious and peaceful environment so that all MPs can focus on the nation's economic recovery efforts and play a more constructive role as checks and balances.
It also touched on the adherence to the Federal Constitution and the system of parliamentary democracy, adding that it was not bound by any confidentiality clauses and would be cancelled if either party decided to exit the arrangement.
Admittedly, some neutrals may argue that the MoU was far from perfect; but then again, even if it was packed with some “candies" inside to pacify the opposition, would the latter have accepted it? Most likely not.
On the other hand, could the MoU be Anwar's shrewd tactical move to “force” the opposition to come to the negotiation table…?
In any case, PN's rejection of the MoU has raised some serious questions on the trajectory of the nation's politics with more sparks expected to fly the next few years - both inside and outside the parliament!
Come to think of it, Muhyiddin, Hamzah and their PAS comrade Takiyuddin Hassan could have at least offered their counter proposals to some of the terms contained in the document; but why did they choose to decline it outrightly and request for a totally fresh version?
Wasn't the previous MoU between the then ruling BN-PN government and the opposition PH in 2021 done through peaceful negotiations - and included a provision for “equal allocations to all MPs?”
Furthermore, why didn’t PN capitalize on this opportunity to extract some strategic benefits, just as Pakatan Harapan did back in 2021 in the MoU with Ismail Sabri’s administration when Anwar managed to get the landmark anti-party hopping law and other bills passed?
In fact, did the opposition’s rejection of the MoU inadvertantly show the lack of a clear strategy on their part? And did it also reaffirm that they would rather continue to pile the pressure on Anwar, as can be seen by the antics of its vocal leaders such as the Bersatu youth chief Wan Ahmad Fayhsal with his relentless attacks, hoping that the unity government will eventually crack and collapse - paving the way for an early return to Putrajaya?
Yet, ironically, last February the country’s new king Sultan Ibrahim, during his royal address for the opening ceremony of the third session of the 15th Parliament, made it very clear to both the ruling coalition and the opposition the need to be united, to work together and to collaborate to develop the country for the benefit of all Malaysians.
Furthermore, His Majesty reminded all parties that the wellbeing of more than 33 million Malaysians should be the utmost priority and that all parties must accept the prevailing order and respect the unity government that has been set up.
Interestingly, he went on to warn that anyone seeking to “play politics" should wait for the next general elections, while emphasising that he will not entertain any request from any party that may compromise the political stability of the country.
Finally, he also called on all levels of society to strengthen national unity and not to incite emotions by harping on the 3R (race, religion and royalty) issues.
Bearing that in mind, by defiantly insisting on their “right” to raise issues on race, religion and the royalty, and literally making it one of the primary reasons for rejecting the MoU, won't the opposition be deemed to be going against the very “decree” of the King?
Information source: Malay Mail, Star, Astro Awani
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