Monday, October 26, 2020

Agong's decree provides Muhyiddin with only brief respite

MM Online:

Left in a precarious position, Muhyiddin and his Cabinet to consider options


Some observers and analysts have pointed out that while Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin failed in his bid to call for a state of emergency, he nevertheless got the nod to table the national Budget next month from the King yesterday. — Bernama pic

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 26 — The Cabinet is expected to meet this morning amid speculation about the political future of the PM and his government, just a day after the King decreed there was no need for the Emergency rule Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin had sought to combat the Covid-19 pandemic for which critics had denounce as an excuse to hold on to power.

Muhyiddin held a late night meeting yesterday at his Damansara Heights home here with some of his ministers and closest aides after the King’s decision was announced in the evening, even as the country was roiled by rumours that he was contemplating resignation.

Ministers and aides did not stop to offer comments to waiting journalists after the meeting, but they are expected to convene a meeting this morning in Putrajaya.

The prime minister issued a statement just before midnight yesterday which did not offer any suggestions he would be quitting. In the statement, Muhyiddin thanked the King for having trust in his government.

Some observers and analysts have pointed out that while he failed in his bid to call for a state of emergency, he nevertheless got the nod to table the national Budget next month from the King yesterday.

But all this means is that once the country manages to bring the number of Covid-19 cases down, the political manoeuvring for power will continue, several analysts told Malay Mail.

“The present political situation is indeed very delicate. By advising the King to proclaim emergency but not obtaining it, what’s left of Muhyiddin’s democratic credentials has taken a big hit and his opponents would certainly take advantage of the popular discontent to try to push him over the edge,” said Senior Fellow at the Singapore Institute of International Affairs Oh Ei Sun.

“But the King’s call for the Budget to be passed would also have to be heeded by them, as feudalistic fealty remains a mainstay of Malaysian politics,” he added.

[...]

The Opposition had planned to table a no confidence motion against Muhyiddin at the next session of Parliament which is also when the Budget will be tabled.

A total of 16 MPs, namely 11 from Amanah and five from Parti Pejuang Tanah Air, have submitted notices to Dewan Rakyat Speaker Datuk Azhar Azizan Harun seeking to table the motion.

Some have argued that Muhyiddin’s move to get a state of emergency declared is akin to political brinkmanship but Universiti Teknologi Malaysia’s Prof Azmi Hassan does not agree.

“No, I don’t see this as brinkmanship since all is not lost either for Muhyiddin or the Opposition. On Muhyiddin’s part, the King has full confidence in how the government is dealing with the pandemic.

“On the Opposition’s part, there’s still a lot of opportunity for them to challenge Muhyiddin. As I read it (royal decree) was good acumen on the part of the King and his majesty came to that decision after careful consideration.”

UiTM incumbent of the Institution of Malay Rulers Chair Prof Shamrahayu Abd Aziz said Muhyiddin’s actions was gentlemanly as he was ready to face the consequences even though it took him to the brink.

“Because the Budget is involved, many would say what Muhyiddin did seemed like brinkmanship but that’s actually gentleman politics.

“To do what you need to do as the government, regardless of the circumstances. People may say it’s close to danger but he was brave enough to go and face the Agong without knowing the consequences.

“Besides that, there could have been other reasons for the King not to grant the emergency request but the most important thing about the palace’s statement is that the priorities now are the pandemic and a strong Budget to help the people suffering from the fallout of Covid-19,” Shamrahayu told Malay Mail.

If the vote of no confidence goes ahead, there may be a snap election.

Malaysians have seen how the recently-concluded Sabah state election led to the third wave of Covid-19 infection throughout the country.

[...]

Professor Azmi said he felt the reason the King decided not to declare a state of emergency is also because he felt the burden may be too much for the country.

“There’s no doubt that the King wants the political manoeuverings to stop for the time being to give space to Muhyiddin to handle the pandemic. And yes in a way the King reminded MPs not to use the Budget to demonstrate their lack of confidence in him since the Budget is part and parcel of the strategy to combat the coronavirus.

“But from the statement I also deduced that these political manoeuverings can continue when the pandemic is under control. So the King’s advice is not to put a stop on the no confidence vote altogether. There’s still leeway for the Opposition,” said Azmi.

Oh also said the Budget will go through but he agreed with Azmi that this impasse is only temporary.

“So some semblance of a Budget would likely be passed, but the political forces for the change of government would continue unabated, albeit in a more nuanced manner,” he said.


19 comments:

  1. Simple solution. Work with DAP and Amanah. You have worked with them before.

    42+11=53

    And neither one of them are demanding your PM job, DPM cukup ha ha ha....but whether they accept you ....hmmmm

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    Replies
    1. DAP under the Lim's plus inner group (eg. Loke, TP) has proven to be a failure in federal 'coalition' government

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  2. Much as I dislike the Moo administration and its scheming power-hungry brokers, I also have serious doubts about the long-term repercussions of the Agong's intervention.

    In a Westminster-style democracy that Malaysia is supposedly modeled on , the Ruler acts on the advice of the Prime Minister.
    The Ruler has the role to advice and warn , as need be, but it is not meant to be a veto, or executive power.
    Margaret Thatcher was rumoured to have had the most difficult relationship with the British Queen of any modern British PM.
    With many instances where the Queen stated her doubts about government actions and policy, but always in private, and always in terms of advice, not interference.

    The Agong and Malay Rulers turning down the PM's "advice" may be a slippery slope that Malaysians may well live to regret in future.

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    1. Yiddin is no Thatcher.

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    2. The Iron Lady never “advised” Queen Lizzy to shut down Westminster.

      She would show up in the House of Commons and belted all comers male or female, upstairs, downstairs and in her lady’s chambers.

      Tua Lam Phar.

      Yiddin tries to shut parlianent down. No comparison.

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    3. But Yiddin is comparable to Boris.....ha ha ha..

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    4. In Msia, we have a modified Westminister system. Some comparisons - In GB, they have not Constitution. They interprete their Law with the Queens English and convention. They have stateman running the country. In Boleh Land - we have the Constitution, we interptete the Law in our Minglish and discretion, we have frogs (animals) messing up the noble august house. See the big difference.

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    5. Like Queen's English say "parent" translated to Malay is "ibu ATAU bapa"....to ketuanan's advantage of course, and MCA was in power then allowed this Constitutional change to take place....

      I prefer Queen's English...Rule Brittania...no Manglish, Singlish or Chinglish please....

      QUOTE
      Amid language clash, Federal Court says conversion needs consent of both parents
      Wednesday, 31 Jan 2018

      By Ida Lim

      KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 31 ― A child from a civil marriage can only be converted to Islam if both parents consent, the Federal Court has decided amid a language clash in the Federal Constitution.

      In arriving at its landmark ruling on Monday, the Federal Court first addressed the apparent inconsistency in the English version and Bahasa Malaysia translation of the Federal Constitution for the word “parent”.

      In its unanimous decision to nullify Muslim convert Muhammad Riduan Abdullah's unilateral conversion of Ipoh-based Hindu mother M. Indira Gandhi's three children to Islam, the Federal Court clarified the long-standing debate ― stemming from language differences ― on parental consent for religious conversion .

      In the full judgment sighted by Malay Mail, the Federal Court noted that Indira's lawyers had argued that the word “ibu atau bapa” (mother or father) in a Perak state law should be read as requiring both parents' consent for the conversion ― in light of the Federal Constitution, the Guardianship of Infants Act (GIA) 1961 and international conventions.

      The Perak state legal adviser had argued that the Federal Constitution's Article 12(4) uses the word “parent” in the singular sense and argued that Article 12(4)'s Bahasa Malaysia translation which uses the words “ibu atau bapa” (mother or father) should be the authoritative version due to the Constitution's Article 160B.

      For Article 12(3), which says no one shall be required to have religious instruction and participation in religious ceremonies of a religion other than their own, Article 12(4) further specifies that the religion of a person under the age of 18 “shall be decided by his parent or guardian”.

      But the Federal Court pointed out the Federal Constitution's Eleventh Schedule has a clause on interpreting words in the singular to include the plural and vice versa, noting that it is fairly clear that the singular word “parent” includes the plural “parents”.
      UNQUOTE

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  3. pintu belakang gang takde maruah, tak tahu apa itu malu, semacam ccp.

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    Replies
    1. Wakakakakaka…

      Another leak of that famed form over substance maruah take from a mfer who doesn't understand it's meaning!

      Perhaps its dangdut pals have taught it well about belakang pusing.

      Delete
    2. ccp lagi worst, not only no ball to face voters, even make use of brutal force to stay in power.

      Delete
    3. Still want to peddling yr petrified lie that there is NO election in CCP China!

      Mfer, look towards yr Formosa to understand what's brutal force to stay in power lah.

      Blackgoating yr opponent such that he has to commit suicide to clear his name!

      Delete
    4. Batty-the-Bahalol...you ni macam that saying " dogs bark, but the caravans move on", hehehe

      But knowing you, Batty-the-Dumbo, you need translation, right ?

      Maksudnya : you can make a fuss, you can make a lot of useless noises here, but the situation doesn't change la. China will be a superpower soon, or is one already. You can curse, you can memaki hamun, you can make false charges....BUT you absolutely CANNOT change a single thing, hehehehe

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    5. hitler n japs oso superpower, a very disgusting one, yuck!

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    6. Has time dilation occurred in that fart filled well?

      台毒 katak & HK 废青 r current nobody yet acting supermenly.

      That's yucky. But what do u know as u have been in trance with that same fart.

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    7. Bahalol is as Dumb as ever..always missing the forest...the point you being the barking DOG..faham tak ? hehe...all your snarky remarks, all your pettiness, all your nitpicking, all your inane blathers, don't change a single thing..China is still the economic superpower NOW and it is the ONLY country in this planet that shows positive growth in the 4th quarter while the rest bite the dust, hehehehe...makes my day ( big smile here )

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    8. panjang lebar no use, still yuck!

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    9. One-liner statement is the best tool for mfers to hide their know-nothing & inadequacies!

      Delete
  4. The monarch is damned if he agrees to declare emergency and damned if he doesn't. Nevertheless, I think the monarch made the right decision. It is also a blessing tor PM. You will see it soon.

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