KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia’s political crisis reached unprecedented levels yesterday, with a sitting prime minister resigning and being reappointed, and the ruling coalition fractured, all over the span of a day.
Yet, yesterday’s events did little to bring any closure to the tumultuous situation. Despite a flurry of meetings at Istana Negara, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s home in Seri Kembangan, the Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia headquarters, as well as Menara Dato’ Onn, there has yet to be any discernible solution to the saga.
Dr Mahathir’s resignation, which was confirmed by the Prime Minister’s Office, was later followed by an announcement by the Chief Secretary to the Government Mohd Zuki Ali that Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah had consented to the appointment of Dr Mahathir as the interim prime minister, a first in Malaysia’s history.
Under Article 43(2)(a) of the Federal Constitution, as interim prime minister, Dr Mahathir will manage the country’s administration until a new prime minister and cabinet is appointed.
Zuki, in a follow-up statement last night, also announced that the present ministerial line-up has been dissolved.
Zuki said the king consented to the cancellation of the appointments of the present ministerial line-up based on the advice of the prime minister.
This, he said, was done based on Article 43(5) of the Federal Constitution, in line with the resignation of the prime minister on Feb 24.
“As such, the duties of the members of the administration (encompassing the deputy prime minister, ministers, deputy ministers and political secretaries) have also ended on the same date,” he said.
Constitutional expert Professor Dr Nik Ahmad Kamal Nik Mahmod believed that the next step could be determined by the king.
“If the Constitution does not provide a clear answer, the king can establish who has the majority in Parliament. However, if the king rules that there is no simple majority, then he can call for the dissolution of Parliament,” he said.
Attorney-General Tommy Thomas, meanwhile, told news portal Malaysiakini last night that there was no time limit attached to the office of the interim prime minister, who might decide whether to appoint cabinet members at his discretion.
“Because Dewan Rakyat sits from March 10, a confidence motion can be moved for him or anyone else. There is no time limit to the office of an interim prime minister. Hence, to state there is a 10-day or any other definite period is wrong,” he was quoted as saying.
Apart from resigning as prime minister, Dr Mahathir also stepped down as Bersatu chairman, fuelling the already feverish speculation over possibly a new government administration or a realignment of political power in the country.
This was also triggered by an announcement by Bersatu president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin that the party had left the Pakatan Harapan alliance. This meant that PH was left with PKR, DAP and Amanah.
Muhyiddin said all Bersatu members of parliament who had left PH had signed a statutory declaration (SD) to continue to support Dr Mahathir as prime minister.
PKR then announced the sacking of its deputy president, Datuk Seri Azmin Ali, and vice-president, Zuraida Kamaruddin, over their “open treachery” and alleged role they played in triggering the political instability.
PKR secretary-general Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution said following the sacking, the duo were also effectively stripped of their party positions.
Later, 11 PKR members of parliament, including Azmin and Zuraida, announced their decision to leave the party. The others were Datuk Saifuddin Abdullah (Indera Mahkota), Baru Bian (Selangau), Datuk Kamaruddin Ja’afar (Bandar Tun Razak), Datuk Mansor Othman (Nibong Tebal), Datuk Rashid Hasnon (Batu Pahat), Datuk Seri Dr Santhara Kumar (Segamat), Ali Biju (Saratok), Willie Mongin (Puncak Borneo) and Jonathan Yasin (Ranau).
The 11 said they would be forming an independent bloc in Parliament.
The former PKR members of parliament, in a joint statement last night, slammed efforts by certain quarters to force Dr Mahathir to fix a date for the transition of power to PKR president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
The group rejected accusations of treachery and, instead, claimed that their accusers were the actual traitors for attempting to change a prime minister mid-term.
“They have now realised their error, hence why they are now supporting Dr Mahathir to continue his role as prime minister until the end of his term.
“Changing a prime minister mid-term sends the wrong signal to the people and to investors. A mid-term transition of power will only jeopardise the continuity of policies and public perception towards the PH government.
“As such, we took the proactive step to foil the conspiracy to bring down the prime minister in the middle of his term,” said the group.