What’s next for Malaysia post-GE15

IN A major turn of events, the 15th General Election (GE15) — the most intense the country had ever faced — ended in a hung Parliament with no coalition securing a clear majority to form the federal government.

With the official results for all 219 parliamentary seats contested in GE15 released by the Election Commission (EC), Pakatan Harapan (PH) emerged as the coalition bloc of parties with the highest number of seats won at 82 (including one from the Malaysian United Democratic Alliance and five from Sarawak DAP), beating out its closest rival Perikatan Nasional (PN) who managed to secure 73 seats.

Meanwhile, Barisan Nasional (BN), having set out with confidence to retake the government in Putrajaya, suffered a devastating loss when it won only 30 seats out of 178 contested.

As no coalition or parties had secured the needed majority to form the new federal government, it is most likely that a multi-coalition government would be again on the cards.

It is most likely that a multi-coalition govt would again be at the helms of Putrajaya (pic: MUHD AMIN NAHARUL/TMR)

Forming the Federal Govt

Before the official announcement by EC chairman Tan Sri Abdul Ghani Salleh yesterday, PN chairman Tan Sri Muhyiddin said PN is set to discuss with the political bloc from Sabah and Sarawak to form the federal government.

According to him, the response from the Borneo bloc (Gabungan Parti Sarawak [GPS] and Gabungan Rakyat Sabah [GRS]) is currently “very encouraging”. Both GPS and GRS won 22 and six seats respectively.

“We will consider all factors in deciding which party to work with to form the government.

“This means that we need to take into account certain parties in other coalitions if they are aligned (with us) and willing to accept the policy that will be led by PN,” he told reporters at the party’s media centre yesterday.

Muhyiddin said PN also welcomes any parties that are willing to accept PN’s policy to form a caring, clean and stable government.

“If PN succeeds in forming a government with other parties — PN will focus on delivering our ‘PN Best’ manifesto as promised.

“The important thing is that we hope PN can lead the government so that we can bring the most stable political scene for the country,” he said.

Meanwhile, Muhyiddin said he had received a letter from Istana Negara, but refused to divulge any details or content about the letter.

All he said was, “This (letter) requires that we take steps as soon as possible — which is part of the discussion we will be having and hopefully will be finalised soon.”

In the latest development, the PN chairman assured that a new federal government will be formed as soon as possible.

“Negotiations are being held with other parties and independent MPs. God willing, a federal government can be formed soon,” he tweeted yesterday following a meeting between himself, PAS president Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang and GPS chairman Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg.

On that note, PH too claimed that they have sufficient support from all the elected parliamentarians to form the new federal government.

Declining to reveal much information about which parties the other MPs’ support was from, PH chairman Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim merely said he can only speak on behalf of PH and subsequent issues relating to other parties have to be done after they submit the documents to the Yang di- Pertuan Agong.

Refuting a claim by Muhyiddin that PN could form the government, Anwar alleged the former prime minister (PM) can’t make such a claim when PH has entered into an understanding with other MPs which enables them to form the government.

“He can’t claim so when we have it in writing,” Anwar said. “We have a majority, which means more than 111 seats”, stressing that PH had it in writing as proof.

The newly-elected Tambun MP mentioned that PH would now follow procedures and submit the necessary documents to the King as soon as possible.

“Any subsequent issues with other parties during further negotiations could only be resolved after an audience with the King,” he said, without divulging when the audience will be.

Make Malaysia Great Again

Meanwhile, DAP veteran Lim Kit Siang has called for the formation of a coalition government between the PH, PN and Borneo bloc, taking into account the hung Parliament situation resulting from the GE15 election results.

“Malaysia is in the new era of coalition politics and I advocate for a coalition government of PH (82 MPs), PN (73 MPs) and Borneo bloc (35 MPs) with Anwar as the PM.

“The coalition government should work towards reversing Malaysia’s decline and make the country a great world-class nation and fight corruption,” he said in a statement.

DAP’s Lim (right) advocates for a coalition govt of PH (82 MPs), PN (73 MPs) and Borneo bloc (35 MPs) with Anwar as the PM (pic: TMR)

He added that the “Make Malaysia Great Again” coalition, which will have 190 MPs (more than two-thirds of the 222 parliamentary seats), can amend the Malaysian constitution to restore to Sarawak and Sabah their rights according to Malaysia Agreement 1963.

In a separate development, Istana Negara wants party leaders with the most number of seats to inform the Yang di-Pertuan Agong of the agreed coalition to form the federal government.

“Party and coalition leaders have been asked to submit the name of the PM candidate to Istana Negara by 2pm today.

“The order of consent and His Majesty’s decision regarding the formation of a new government and the appointment of PM through the said process is final as per Article 40(2)(a) and Article 43(2)(a) of the Federal Constitution,” Istana Negara said in a statement yesterday.

Istana Negara also mentioned that the King advises the people and political party leaders to abide by and respect the democratic process by accepting the GE15 results, as the country needs a government that is stable and has the credibility and integrity to ensure the well-being of the people to drive the prosperity agenda.

The People has Spoken

Separately, BN said the GE15 result is a big signal from the people to the coalition.

“We accept and respect the people’s decision in the GE15 results as we consider it as a great signal sent by the people to us.

“However, we will continue to contribute to the establishment of a stable administration, and we are willing to set aside our previous differences and work with any party for this purpose,” BN chairman Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said in a statement yesterday.

At the same time, Ahmad Zahid also mentioned that the coalition is willing to serve as a bridge to strengthen the relationship between the peninsular states and Sabah and Sarawak.

As for the coalition’s immediate plan, Ahmad Zahid said they will focus on rebuilding their party’s strength, particularly in confront- ing current difficulties and better understanding the requirements of the new generations.

On the other hand, Parti Bangsa Malaysia (PBM) said they accepted the GE15 result with an open heart and expressed their appreciation to the rakyat who have given their support to the party’s candidates.

Contesting in its maiden GE, PBM vied for five parliamentary seats — Julau, Ampang, Hulu Selangor, Kapar and Labuan — and two state seats in Tronoh, Perak, and Bugaya in Sabah.

They only won one seat,which is the Julau parliamentary seat via its president Datuk Larry Sng.

“Although we fail to achieve the targeted result from this GE, it will not break our spirit of wanting to serve the rakyat as we will continue our efforts to bring change and progress to further improve the living standards of the multiracial Malaysians,” it said in a statement yesterday.

Warisan’s Mohd Shafie says several political party leaders have expressed their intention for cooperation and the party is still considering the matter (Source: Mohd Shafie’s Facebook)

Meanwhile, Parti Warisan Sabah president Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal said the party accepted the GE15 with an open heart as it was the decision made by Malaysians in line with the democratic process and people’s rights.

“Moving forward, we will strengthen our position in Sabah but, at the same time, will not neglect what has been built in the peninsula.

“We already have a structure and some areas received thousands of votes, (so) we can’t say that there is no acceptance of the people in the peninsula to Warisan at all. Maybe it is too early for us to win; it takes time to get to know Warisan, the candidate, the manifesto and so on,” he said.

On who Warisan might be lending their support to, he said Warisan had received phone calls from several political party leaders who expressed their intention for cooperation and the party is still considering the matter.

“What is important to us is the stability of the country and the importance of Bornean states for the people. Even though the number (of parliamentary seats won by Warisan) is small, it can add stability to the country’s political situation and whoever wishes to form the federal government needs this support.

“Anyone who wants our cooperation should consider what is fundamental to our struggle, including the interest of the people, Borneo (Sabah and Sarawak) and Warisan’s survival,” he said in a press conference at the party’s headquarters yesterday.

Ahmad Zahid Urged to Resign

On another development, there are calls from both sides of the political landscape for the resignation of Ahmad Zahid as Umno’s president and BN chairman following the worst defeat of Umno-BN in its political histor y.

Heading the call, Lim said Ahmad Zahid should relinquish both positions to enable the party and coalition to return to their original nation-building principles. Echoing the sentiment, Johor Mentri Besar (MB) Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi is also calling for the Umno leader to resign following BN’s dismal performance in GE15.

Johor MB Onn Hafiz says changes need to be made because many Umno, MCA and MIC leaders lost due to BN not listening to the pulse of the grassroots

Onn Hafiz, who is also the Johor BN election operations director, said Ahmad Zahid needs to step down from continuing to hold the position of Umno president for the sake of the party’s interests and future.
The Machap assemblyman said

changes need to be made because many Umno, MCA and MIC leaders of calibre lost in GE15 due to BN not wanting to listen to the pulse of the grassroots.

“Umno and BN only won nine out of the 26 parliamentary seats in Johor, namely Simpang Renggam, Parit Sulong, Ayer Hitam, Pontian, Kota Tinggi, Tenggara, Pengerang, Sembrong and Tanjung Piai.

“We did not win a single parliamentary seat in Perlis, Kedah, Penang, Melaka, Kelantan and Terengganu.

“Although it is bitter pill to swallow, Umno leaders including myself need to go back and listen to the voice of the people, which was translated through their votes in GE15 on Saturday,” he said in a statement uploaded on his Face- book yesterday.

Onn Hafiz said efforts to revive and improve the party need to start now, and if changes are not made immediately, Umno and BN will not win a single seat in the future.

As such, he said Ahmad Zahid should be big-hearted and resign as party president as soon as possible, just as Datuk Seri Mohd Najib Razak did in 2018 (following BN’s defeat in GE14 that year).

“God willing, this big-hearted action will help us take the first step to revive and strengthen Umno, the party that we all love,” he said.

At the same time, outgoing Umno information chief Shahril Hamdan has joined the chorus for Ahmad Zahid’s resignation.

Shahril said Ahmad Zahid should “honourably” step back to set an example to the party and let other party leaders and individuals decide the next critical step.