If a prime minister-designate fails to get elected to parliament, his party must still fulfil its election manifesto and find a credible replacement candidate to lead the country.
However, do Pakatan Harapan (PH) and Perikatan Nasional (PN) have suitable replacements if their respective leaders, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, fail to win?
That question was put to political analyst Professor Dr Azeem Fazwan Ahmad Farouk, with Malaysia’s 15th General Election scheduled on Nov 19.
Azeem, who is director of Universiti Sains Malaysia’s Centre for Policy Research and International Studies, said the problem plaguing PH and PN is that they do not have suitable candidates if Anwar or Muhyiddin loses. Anwar is contesting in Tambun while Muhyiddin is standing in Pagoh.
“If Anwar loses, who in Pakatan can lead? Is it Anwar’s daughter (Nurul Izzah), or his wife, Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail?
“Would they be accepted? What about Rafizi Ramli, who has only just returned as deputy president of PKR?”
He said, similarly, apart from Muhyiddin, Perikatan does not have anyone, apart from Datuk Seri Azmin Ali.
As for Barisan Nasional (BN), Azeem said there is no shortage of candidates lining up to replace its prime minister candidate, Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob who is contesting in Bera. He added Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan is a likely nominee, ahead of beleaguered president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
Azeem said GE15 would be Malaysia’s closest election with a surprise outcome, as no single coalition will get the 112 seats needed to form a government. He added that in Malaysia, many tend to vote for a coalition, hoping that its leader would be the prime minister.
“Unlike the United States, Indonesia, or the Philippines, we do not elect the prime minister. It is the MPs who decide,” said Azeem.
“Previously, the Umno president would ‘automatically’ become prime minister, as the party and its coalition partners would have more than the minimum 112 seats to form a government.
“However, times have changed. Ismail Sabri is not Umno president, yet he was the prime minister (for 14 months).
“As such, there is no guarantee a leader or PM-designate will eventually become the prime minister, as he or she must be accepted by at least 112 MPs.” - Graig Nunis
Dr.M - Blame Muhyiddin, Hamzah,
Azmin for Anwar not becoming PM...
Former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad said it was not him who should be blamed for Anwar Ibrahim not becoming prime minister under the Pakatan Harapan administration. Instead, he blamed those from within the coalition who engineered the Sheraton Move.
In particular, Mahathir placed the fault firmly on Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin, its secretary-general Hamzah Zainuddin and supreme council member Azmin Ali.
“I want to explain again, that my resignation (as prime minister) did not cause the Pakatan Harapan government's fall. If the Harapan government did not fall, they could have named Anwar as my successor.
“The ones who toppled the Harapan government were Muhyiddin, Hamzah and Azmin - who pulled out many of their members from Harapan until the coalition lost its majority and fell.
“So blame Azmin, Hamzah and Muhyiddin, as well as their followers who were involved with the Sheraton Move that denied Anwar the premiership... Don’t always blame me,” Mahathir said in a statement today.
He also said Anwar was at fault for pushing Azmin and several other PKR lawmakers at the time to become turncoats and in turn, cooperate with Muhyiddin.
Mahathir said this after Anwar and Harapan supporters have been accusing him nonstop of not fulfilling his promise of handing over the prime ministership to Anwar and of not discussing his decision to resign as prime minister with the coalition.
Mahathir explained that his decision to resign as prime minister amid the Sheraton Move in 2020 was similar to what happened with former British prime minister Liz Truss. “For example in the UK, the country with the Westminster system that we follow, when the prime minister resigns, the ruling party decides who will be the replacement. - mk
Enough of your crab stories.Still continuing blaming others as if he is an angel. Because of his greed for power and money, he wants to stay on. No more trusting this old man. - YellowCondo6925
He is getting more and more worry as the polling day is approaching, knowing that AI is going to be the 10th PM of Malaysia. So he better repent and taichi to others early for his mistake during the last days of PH 22 months in 2020. - New My
As usual, never his fault. But we remember he had an agreement before GE14 to hand over. Really can't b trusted. - Albatros
All 4 of you, have robbed the will of the Rakyat! PH will come back more stronger, without any traitors from next week. - GreenCarp8801
You are so disgusting. You betrayed the people and kept blaming on others. You didn't have to dissolve the parliament but you did it just to stop Anwar from becoming the next Prime Minister as promised. You are the one to be blamed for putting my country in such a mess and corrupted. You are a liar and a traitor. You shame your whole family and ten generations down. - anonymous who
Strange ‘happenings’
with the Electoral Roll...
Last Saturday, after baking some cakes, she sat down to have her afternoon tea with a slice of home-baked sugee cake. She opened her laptop to check her details on the Electoral Roll to confirm her constituency and polling station. What she saw, shocked her.
Her polling station was now at her previous constituency. And she ‘qualified’ for early voting on Nov 15, instead of on Nov 19, with the rest of the population. For the record, those who qualify for early voting are members of the armed forces, police officers, and their spouses.
“I tried calling the number on the Election Commission of Malaysia website, but no one answered. I used to stay in Subang Jaya, but changed my address to Klang before the last election,” said Sta Maria, who has lived in Klang since 2010.
“I voted in Klang in the last general election, but today, I discovered my polling station is back in Subang. How can that be? “Plus, I am eligible for early voting. How is that possible?” Sta Maria kept trying to contact the EC. Although she did not get through, she kept refreshing the website.
On Monday morning, her details were “updated”. Her polling station was still in Subang, but she was not eligible for early voting. On Thursday at 2.33pm, her status was “updated” again. She was back to early voting on Nov 15, but two hours later, it was Nov 19.
Sta Maria finally got through to the EC who sent her a message on Friday stating her polling date was Nov 19, and that any change of address would be reflected within two months. “I will continuously refresh the website from now until Nov 15, and then, on Nov 19, as I do not want to miss the chance to vote,” she added.
Sta Maria now faces another problem as the monsoon season is back. “On Wednesday, there were flash floods in my neighbourhood. That included the road leading out to Kesas Highway,” said Sta Maria.
“I had to turn around and use an alternate route to fetch my daughter from school. “When I reached home, I discovered that floodwaters had entered the backyard and the downstairs bathroom.”
Last year, Sta Maria was among the thousands affected by the floods. Her family had to move all the electronic items and furniture to the second floor.
“It looks like we will have to be extra careful and ensure everything is safe before we go out to vote,” she said.
Just a reminder to those voting, please print or screenshot your particulars from the EC website before you go to the polling station. Please make sure to line up at the correct lane next Saturday. - Deborah Sta Maria,housewife from Klang.
cheers.
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