Before Malaysia enacted its Anti-Hopping Laws, statutory declarations (SDs) became a potent and controversial tool in the nation's political landscape.
These documents, which allowed politicians to pledge their support for a particular leader or political move, often determined the fate of governments and leaders alike.
The power of SDs came into sharp focus during the period leading up to the infamous "Sheraton Move," a political upheaval that culminated in the sudden resignation of Dr. Mahathir Mohamad and the appointment of Muhyiddin Yassin as Prime Minister.
Muhyiddin's Use of SDs During the Sheraton Move
The Sheraton Move, a political coup that took place in February 2020, stands as a defining moment in Malaysia’s political history. It saw Muhyiddin Yassin, then a member of the ruling coalition, strategically use SDs to orchestrate a shift in power. With these declarations, he gathered enough support from Members of Parliament (MPs) to become the next Prime Minister after the resignation of the sitting Prime Minister, Dr. Mahathir Mohamad.
Muhyiddin's skillful maneuvering with SDs was nothing short of a masterstroke. By securing these documents from a majority of MPs, he attempted to demonstrate to the King that he had the numbers to form a new government. In an unprecedented decision, the then Yang Di-Pertuan Agong chose to interview all 222 elected members of Parliament to identify which candidate for the Prime Ministership had the majority needed to form the government.
This led to his appointment as Malaysia’s eighth Prime Minister, despite the fact that the electorate had not voted for this outcome. His ability to use SDs as a tool to sidestep the democratic process earned him the moniker "PM of Statutory Declarations".
Critics have argued that Muhyiddin’s rise to power via SDs was an undemocratic move, undermining the spirit of Malaysia's electoral system. By relying on the personal pledges of MPs rather than a general election, Muhyiddin was able to bypass the will of the people, sparking widespread discontent and raising concerns about the legitimacy of his government.
During his tenure while COVID restrictions were in place, Malaysia was placed under a state of emergency as Parliament was suspended for public health reasons. This provided Muhyiddin with the much-needed breathing space to prove his SD numbers to remain in power. During this state of emergency, he had free rein to run the government without pressure and scrutiny from MPs who represent the people of the nation.
It was an era when the economy was experiencing severe decline, and the nation’s democracy was clearly facing significant strain.
Anwar's Bid for Power Through SDs
During Muhyiddin’s tenure, Anwar Ibrahim, a long-time contender for the premiership, attempted to counter with his own use of SDs. Anwar claimed on multiple occasions that he had the numbers to form a government, suggesting that a majority of MPs had signed SDs in his favor. However, unlike Muhyiddin, Anwar’s efforts to use SDs as a ticket to power did not bear fruit.
Despite presenting these SDs to the King, Anwar’s bid to become Prime Minister was ultimately unsuccessful. The episode underscored the precarious nature of SDs as a political tool, while they could signify potential support, they were not always a guarantee of success. Anwar’s failure to topple Muhyiddin through SDs highlighted the complexities and limitations of this method in the Malaysian political arena.
Muhyiddin: The Master of SDs
Muhyiddin’s use of SDs during the Sheraton Move solidified his reputation as a political tactician who could leverage the system to his advantage.
By turning SDs into his primary instrument of power, he demonstrated how these documents could be used to subvert traditional democratic processes. This not only allowed him to ascend to the highest office in the land but also set a precedent for how political power could be brokered behind closed doors.
The undemocratic nature of Muhyiddin’s rise, facilitated by SDs, eventually led to significant political fallout. The instability and dissatisfaction it caused fueled the push for Anti-Hopping Laws, designed to prevent MPs from switching allegiances and to restore the power to the electorate.
The Final Act and the Path Forward
The era of SDs as a "political lottery ticket" in Malaysia came to a head during Muhyiddin Yassin's ascent to the premiership through the Sheraton Move. His strategic use of these declarations highlighted both the power and the perils of SDs in the country’s political system.
Anwar Ibrahim’s later attempts to use SDs to claim leadership during Muhyiddin's tenure further demonstrated the unpredictable nature of this tool.
In response to the political instability that followed, Malaysia introduced Anti-Hopping Laws, aimed at ensuring that the future of the country’s leadership would be decided at the ballot box, rather than through backroom deals and signed pieces of paper.
By: Kpost
Information Source:
Astroawani , Bernama , FMT
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