COMMENT | Political ceasefire before Parliament reopens - what are the options?
COMMENT | Thanks to voices from the public and within the political class, including that of Deputy Dewan Rakyat Speaker Azalina Othman Said, a hybrid sitting is now being studied after de facto Law Minister Takiyuddin Hassan and Dewan Rakyat Speaker Azhar Azizan Harun revised their opposition to the reopening of Parliament under the emergency.
Let’s be blunt. If social distancing is the reason for Parliament’s suspension, the challenge can be overcome in many ways: virtual, hybrid or even a physical session in two venues connected electronically. The obstacle is neither technological nor constitutional, but political.
It ultimately hinges on two questions:
- Will Parliament bring down the government?
- If the government needs to be kept in power, what is the necessary political settlement?
Palace's options
The emergency appears to be all about keeping a fragile government in power. If Parliament is reconvened, a vote of no-confidence can be passed like how Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin’s party deputy Ahmad Faisal Azumu was dethroned as Perak menteri besar last December with Umno and Pakatan Harapan joining forces.
If the presiding speaker or deputy speaker stands in the way, he or she can be removed too.
If a government is voted out, there are two possible outcomes in normal circumstances: a new election to produce a Parliament, or a new government of different combination formed within the same Parliament.
The Covid-19 pandemic rules out the option of an election, which the king has rejected outright since last February. However, until Harapan and Umno – the two blocs that want Muhyiddin out – can agree on the next government’s formation, the ouster of Muhyiddin may trigger another round of MP-fishing with no guarantee of a more functioning government than the current one.
This then leaves the palace with a few options on the menu...
