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By Mihar Dias (C) Copyright March 2023
We are quite certain that Tun Mahathir understands that he does not need to school Members of Parliament (MPs) on their rights to withdraw support for the government of the day.
They know the Constitution. They understand that it is not against the law if they were to withdraw their support for the government of the day.
But on 28 March he spoke to the media during at a press conference at Perdana Leadership Foundation, Putrajaya where he reminded MPs that they have the right to withdraw their support if they are dissatisfied with the current administration.
"In my opinion, if the government is not governing well enough, the party members should overthrow the government and elect a new one, just like what happenned when Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin became prime minister," he said.
"Previously, Umno was dissatisfied so they withdrew their support for the coalition and Muhyiddin was removed from his position. He was then replaced by an Umno leader," he added. He made the statement in response to a question whether the Unity Government led by Anwar Ibrahim could be in office until the end of his term.
His comment is valid but contains many implications unique to the way Tun Mahathir often does when he goes about politicking.
When he says that MPs may withdraw their support and "overthrow" the government of the day if they were dissatisfied with the current administration, he probably meant it. He implies that he too is dissatisfied particularly when he has been shut out from various venues to voice his opinion on Malay Proclamation in recent weeks.
That is his current sore point with PMX's administration that he says is dictatorial because it does not tolerate criticisms by the people as enshrined in the Constitution.
Besides that particular incident, Tun Mahathir too is of the opinion that the government is not capable of solving the problems of the Malays. He was quoted as saying "I am not convinced at all because he (Anwar) thinks that there is no specific problem faced by the Malays. All problems are shared together as a multiracial country."
Was he instigating MPs to rise and overthrow the current government? Instigation has a sinister motive and is considered seditious. But what he implies and would like to see is a change in the current administration which has been in office slightly over the critical 100 days.
Tun Mahathir is also an impatient man. At 98, he probably wants to see changes faster than the pace that the country is moving towards solving national issues such cost of living and inflation. So are many Malaysians who voted for their MPs into office hoping to bring a better administration to make this country a better place.
Many Malaysians like Tun Mahathir are dissatisfied with the way the country is managed. Cost of living is up and up. Prices of consumer goods are spiralling and reduction of petrol prices that this government promised as part of their campaign platform is not less than what it was before they came to power. So it is up to the MPs to decide what is good for the country and to do what they see fit.
We the rakyat have done our part by putting our MPs in Parliament to help deliver a better quality of life for us, by lowering inflation and addressing the high cost of living that if not handled well may yet double by the end of 2023.
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