Anwar Needs To Mend Fences With Opposition Analysts

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Political analysts have suggested newly minted Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim mend fences with opposition parties so that Pakatan Harapan can form a stable government without being ousted before it completes a full five-year parliamentary tenure.
They also pointed out that Harapan should strengthen trust if it forms a unity government with BN and GPS.
Political scientist Wong Chin Huat said Anwar must be a prime minister for all Malaysians, not just the 38 percent of Harapan voters and 22 percent of BN voters.
"He needs to especially assure the 30 percent of voters who support PN that their voices would be heard in Parliament and through state governments.
"His government won't last or work if the sizeable minority constantly opposes government policies. To focus on the economy, he must get the politics right,” he told Malaysiakini.
Anwar’s administration, he said, should also recognise a PN shadow cabinet with commensurate salary, resources and information access.
Wong added that Anwar should meet with all menteris besar, chief ministers and premier to express his government's intention to work with all states without partisan discrimination, assuring Sarawak, Sabah and the four PAS-led state governments.
"Anwar, however, should refrain from making promises that he may not be able to deliver," he added.
Wong opined that there’s also a need for Anwar's administration to temporarily stop the prosecution of cases that can be viewed as a political witch hunt.
"The new prime minister should commence the process of partitioning public prosecution and until then place a moratorium on any prosecution of cases not involving political violence that may be misconstrued as a political witch hunt on the opposition," he said.
Don’t make the same mistake
Political analyst Bridget Welsh urged Anwar to learn from past lessons, particularly the one which resulted in the fall of the Harapan administration in February 2020.
"What contributed to Harapan's weakness in 2018 was that it operated in an opposition mentality that had fueled suspicion - the cancelling of projects as well as operating in a tone which made it harder to mend fences. But you are a government to all, not just your political base.
"In fact, there are doubts among Harapan, Umno and GPS supporters. This is not about personalities but about managing the grassroots. (They) need trust-building exercises, not just at the elite level but within society," she said.
Welsh also pointed out that Anwar should work with BN or Umno as a whole instead of just one leader, particularly if that one leader doesn't have legitimacy, like Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
Anwar Ibrahim and Ahmad Zahid Hamidi during the former’s swearing-in ceremony as prime minister todayShe said that the recently concluded general election saw Harapan only winning 11 percent of Malay support while PN won 54 percent and BN secured 33 percent of Malay votes.
The inclusion of Umno and Borneo parties in the Anwar administration will make an impact on representations, she told radio station BFM in an interview today.
"We had a very challenging situation of ideological polarisation. Conservative on one side and progressive on the other side. PN won the bulk of younger Malay voters.
"This requires a coalition which is somewhat conservative, (namely) BN and GPS, but not as conservative as PN," Welsh added.
Unity government
Anwar was sworn in as the country’s 10th prime minister this evening after almost a week of political deadlock following GE15.
His main rival, Perikatan Nasional (PN) chairperson Muhyiddin Yassin, had claimed to have 115 MPs on his side on Tuesday but the palace did not accept this.
PN chairperson Muhyiddin YassinTo overcome the predicament, the Yang di-Pertuan Agong proposed a unity government.
Harapan has 82 seats in Parliament, short of the 112 needed for a simple majority.
Under the arrangement, Anwar will lead a unity government with BN as Harapan’s main partner, while Sarawak’s GPS and Sabah’s GRS, as well as Warisan, are expected to be accepted into the fold.
Yesterday, Umno decided that BN should support and join a federal government that is not led by PN.
It is unclear if Umno's position was accepted by BN as the coalition has yet to hold its supreme council meeting to endorse Umno's decision.
Tension has been mounting in Umno and BN after Zahid was accused of sending letters expressing BN lawmakers' support for Anwar as prime minister, to the palace.
‘CSA is the best method’
Universiti Malaya political analyst Awang Azman Pawi suggested that the ruling coalition and opposition coalition sign a confidence and supply agreement (CSA), which entails opposition parliamentarians supporting the government's budgets.
"As the prime minister, Anwar can keep Harapan and BN, or bring GPS and PN (into his government). It is up to Anwar's confidence to come up with the government and cabinet (line-up) formula.
"Perhaps Anwar can sign a CSA with PN or parties that are less comfortable with the ruling government but have bigger numbers than Harapan.
"The CSA is the best method of political stability in Anwar's government because it covers a broader scope compared to the memorandum of understanding inked between Harapan and PN," he said.
Budget needed urgently
Another political expert, Putra Business School associate professor Ahmed Razman Abdul Latiff said Anwar should speed up the process of re-tabling Budget 2023.
"There is an urgent need to present Budget 2023 in the near future by this unity government," he added.
Razman suggested that a temporary budget be formed to ensure emoluments are paid to civil servants.
He said the Anwar administration should make an effort to study how a manifesto of a unity government, which is formed by various political coalitions, can be implemented and included in the budget.
Meanwhile, Welsh noted winning the middle ground can be done by broadening the ideological spectrum which can create a sense of unity.
"Across many spectrums, this formula in Malaysian politics is the most stable form and immediately they must form a common policy platform.
"A strong Malaysia is one with a strong opposition, which is focused on policy issues to bring the country forward," she said. - Mkini

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