PETALING JAYA: While the ballot box is the best way to determine who should govern the country, snap elections now should be avoided at all costs.
Given that the country is still dealing with the Covid-19 pandemic and the resulting economic fallout, it will be too costly to go to the polls again, according to analysts.
“We have to do everything possible to address the health and economic crises, and going for elections is not the way,” political analyst Dr Jeniri Amir told theSun yesterday.
Another analyst, Prof Dr Barjoyai Bardai, shared the view that a weak government is “still okay” as long as it is able to meet the needs of the people.
He pointed out that such a government would be more inclined to listen to the people because they would want to build goodwill in preparation for the next elections.
On Wednesday, PKR president and Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim claimed that he has “strong and formidable” support in the Dewan Rakyat to replace Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin as prime minister.
The options left to Muhyiddin are to either woo enough MPs to his side or call for snap elections.
Jeniri, who is also senior fellow at the Malaysian Council of Professors, pointed out that the government is only midway through its five-year term and, at a time of crisis, continuity is essential.
“Politically, the country is also in a ‘new normal’. We have a government with a very slim majority,” he pointed out.
Only two seats separate the ruling coalition from the Opposition in the Dewan Rakyat.
He said that under current circumstances, it would be best for the country to take every precaution to avoid another crisis.
Barjoyai said for a start, Anwar would have to prove first that he indeed has the “strong and formidable” support he claims to have.
He also described as “perplexing” a statement by Umno president and Barisan Nasional chairman Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi that he knew of some MPs who were prepared to support Anwar.
Ahmad Zahid had said on Wednesday that support for the government was based on each individual MP’s choice, and not that of the party.
“It is important that we resolve the issue of support as soon as possible.”
Universiti Teknologi Malaysia geostrategist Prof Dr Azmi Hassan said snap polls should only be called if the government of the day cannot perform efficiently.
“Even with a slim majority, Muhyiddin’s government can still function in the face of the latest political onslaught.”
“On that note, if Anwar can prove that he has a formidable majority nearing two-thirds I don’t see any need for us to go to the polls,” he added.
Azmi said a stable government with a healthy majority and an effective opposition would be ideal but “this factor alone can’t be a guarantee”.
He cited the example of what happened to the Sabah government led by Warisan Plus.
Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal called for snap elections in response to claims by his predecessor Tan Sri Musa Aman that he had enough support in the state assembly to unseat the incumbent government.
The elections will be held tomorrow.
Azmi acknowledged that the Perikatan Nasional (PN) government is “not stable”, but with the component parties Umno, Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia, PAS and their allies in Sabah and Sarawak working together, it could still be effective in managing problems related to the Covid pandemic.
“I’m confident that the PN government can still function, so fresh polls are not necessary.”
