SIBU, Aug 14: Members of Parliament from both sides of the political divide have been urged to play their role to evaluate the political reform offer from Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.
SUPP Bawang Assan chairman Senator Robert Lau Hui Yew in a statement also advised them to vote with their conscience during the confidence vote on September 6.
“It’s time to put public interest first and set aside political rivalry and personal self interest. Its time to move forward with courage in ways that are just,” he said.
Lau reckoned that political compromise comes about not voluntarily but prompted by the reality of the election results or the reality of the results.
“Malaysian politics have been a series of compromise and accommodation since independence through coalition government.
“What was offered by Muhyiddin is one of such moments. The federal constitution mandates that the prime minister to command majority support in the Dewan Rakyat.
“Muhyiddin has made the compromise understanding he needs support from across the aisle. In order to get their support he has to make an offer that is legitimate and acceptable,” he added.
He considered the prime minister’s offer last night as normal and sensible.
“It is actually good for the country and exactly what the country needs moving forward. In the face of a crisis we are often forced to think and act.
“The offer made to opponents to gain their support to form the government is not bribery. It is in fact the very nature of a constitutional democratic system of government.
“No one in the opposition camp, not a single person, now can show he or she has the majority required under the constitution to form a majority government currently,” he said.
Thus, he believed that whoever so desire to be the next PM will also have to make an offer that is acceptable to the MPs across the aisle and the offer has to be legitimate.
On the proposed anti- hopping law, Lau reckoned that it will be an improvement for the nation and a deterrent to the current political culture of “frogging” for personal gain.
He said now is a good time to evaluate and engage in the debate of whether the offer is acceptable or not or whether it can be further improved.
“This is a golden opportunity to reign in the vast power of the executive arm and return some of these power to the legislature,” he said. — DayakDaily
