Muhyiddin The Lucky Prime Minister


 


No one expected Muhyiddin Yassin to be prime minister. No one expected Muhyiddin’s popularity rating to be so high. No one expected Muhyiddin’s slim-majority government to last till this day.
But he has survived all our low expectations and stands as our prime minister today.
My inference is that the circumstances surrounding Muhyiddin played a pivotal role in elevating him to where he is. Most of his successes were not a direct result of his grand planning or deliberate choices.
His relative stability as a prime minister, his personal popularity and his government’s relative stability was aided by favourable circumstances – and this makes him a very lucky prime minister.
Let me elaborate on these three factors.
A falling PM but…
Many people call Muhyiddin a weak prime minister because he is always beholden to someone else. Muhyiddin’s party, Bersatu, is not the largest party in the government. He had to give many positions and favours to the leaders of other parties to secure their loyalty and support. He could not simply count on himself.
Knowing this, Mahathir launched his first assault in Parliament. If Muhyiddin failed to secure a simple majority to the bills tabled in the august house, then his former boss Dr Mahathir Mohamad and the opposition would have a strong claim to ask Muhyiddin to resign.
Conceptually this was easy. If the MPs supporting Muhyiddin could be easily bought, then by right they could be easily bought to not support Muhyiddin as well. Before the vote, talks around the Parliament corridor was that Muhyiddin does not have the numbers to carry on. But in the end, he did.
The latest challenge to Muhyiddin’s position as prime minister came from opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim. In a press conference, Anwar claimed that he now has enough numbers to support him as the next prime minister. This means that Muhyiddin’s government has “fallen”.
The general understanding was that Anwar’s support to reach a simple majority (or even a strong and convincing majority) could only come from Umno. A letter signed by Umno leaders Najib Abdul Razak and Ahmad Zahid Hamidi is rumoured to have declared Umno’s support for Anwar to be prime minister.


But shortly after, many Umno MPs started denying their support for Anwar. Ahmad Maslan and Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor used this as an opportunity to build new terms of support for Muhyiddin’s government. They said that Umno as the largest party should be given more.
What Umno wanted was less of discontinuing their support for Muhyiddin as prime minister. But to have better privileges and positions from their stronger bargaining hand.
Of course, this makes Muhyiddin a submissive prime minister because he would always have to succumb to the whims and fancies of stronger parties like Umno. At the same time, other smaller but critical parties like PAS would also start to demand more when they know that Muhyiddin is beholden to their support.
Despite this, Muhyiddin is likely to remain as prime minister. As much as these events weaken Muhyiddin’s relative strength in the eyes of his government partners, Muhyiddin’s ultimate question of remaining as prime minister remains the same, if not stronger.
Mahathir and Anwar’s attempts at dislodging him as prime minister had inadvertently secured his position for a little longer. As long as he is able to fulfil the demands of his government partners – something he has shown a high propensity in doing – then he is likely stay as prime minister.
In all attempts, he is lucky to stay as prime minister.
A falling popularity rating but…
When Muhyiddin’s government took over at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, everyone was doubtful as to whether he could rise to the occasion. He did enough, but he was largely helped by an incredible team of civil servants led by Health Ministry director-general Noor Hisham Abdullah.
The director-general was not only professional and competent in taking early steps to curb the second wave of the virus, but he was also the assuring voice amidst an uncertain future. The country needed someone to count on in a time of need, and a civil servant – not a politician – was the unlikely hero.
Other than that, a global pandemic of this scale has also compelled many to pay more attention to the news and public addresses made by the prime minister. He took the opportunity to appear on the TVs of many Malaysians who would not otherwise pay attention to the politicians who rule our country.
Public visibility was almost monopolised by Muhyiddin. Oftentimes, the popularity ratings of a politician correlate with how frequently they appear in front of voters. Under normal times, Muhyiddin would have to compete for your attention when he introduces policies, or he would have to participate in cheaper stunts to make himself relevant.
But a pandemic made sure that most people paid attention to Muhyiddin’s voice for a direction that directly affects your life: The start and end of conditional movement orders, the permission and restriction on economic activities, pandemic-specific grants and assistance, and others.


Once again, the circumstances of competent civil service and high public attention were favourable to him. This made him lucky.
A falling government but…
Additionally, Muhyiddin’s slimmest-majority-in-history government stands until today. And this was substantially aided by luck. All it takes was for three MPs to declare that they no longer support Muhyiddin for the government to fall.
A snap election could be called, and we could usher in a new government.
Before the Sabah state election, Muhyiddin has hinted at wanting to call a snap election should the outcome of Sabah be favourable to his party and partners. Every government wants to call an election when their popularity and morale are high; especially for Muhyiddin, he could take this opportunity to expand his majority. He wants to become the largest party so he could appear dominant.
But Muhyiddin knows that a snap election is a gamble. The roadblock in seat negotiations with Umno meant that Umno would unlikely agree to allow Bersatu to contest more seats than them, let alone winnable seats. Without Umno, Bersatu could not form a government.
In any event, Umno would not allow Muhyiddin to continue as prime minister again. This means that it is not in Muhyiddin’s interest to have a snap election as there is no guarantee that he could be prime minister. Whereas for Umno, a snap election gives them more influence and leverage in government – and they could finally have a Umno prime minister again.
However, the Sabah snap election has taught us enough. During a time of the pandemic, Muhyiddin has a legitimate reason to delay any calls for snap elections. Any delay in holding a snap general election means that Muhyiddin holds on as government for another day.
Muhyiddin's position as prime minister and his government is weak. But the surrounding circumstances were favourable to him holding on for a little longer. And a little longer.
This makes him a very lucky prime minister. For the rakyat, less so.

JAMES CHAI is a legal consultant and researcher working for Invoke, among others. He also blogs at jameschai.com.my. You may reach him at [email protected]. - Mkini


The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of MMKtT.


Artikel ini hanyalah simpanan cache dari url asal penulis yang berkebarangkalian sudah terlalu lama atau sudah dibuang :

http://malaysiansmustknowthetruth.blogspot.com/2020/10/muhyiddin-lucky-prime-minister.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+MalaysiansMustKnowTheTruth+%28Malaysians+Must+Know

Kempen Promosi dan Iklan
Kami memerlukan jasa baik anda untuk menyokong kempen pengiklanan dalam website kami. Serba sedikit anda telah membantu kami untuk mengekalkan servis percuma aggregating ini kepada semua.

Anda juga boleh memberikan sumbangan anda kepada kami dengan menghubungi kami di sini
Muhyiddin Yasin Is Still The Prime Minister But For How Long

Muhyiddin Yasin Is Still The Prime Minister But For How Long

papar berkaitan - pada 14/10/2020 - jumlah : 361 hits
Umno s threat last night to leave the ruling PN coalition just hours after Anwar Ibrahim s press conference on his audience with the Agong in the morning beg the question Does Muhyiddin still have the numbers Puchong 14 Oct 2020 When some p...
The Agong Cannot Remove The Prime Minister

The Agong Cannot Remove The Prime Minister

papar berkaitan - pada 17/10/2020 - jumlah : 344 hits
Jae Senn Anwar oh Anwar Trying to trigger a Constitutional Crisis and force us to go into Martial Law YDP Agong has no Constitutional power to dismiss a sitting Prime Minister or to dissolve a Ministerial Cabinet Under Articles 40 and 43 of...
Mahathir Says Political Uncertainty Won T End With Anwar As Prime Minister

Mahathir Says Political Uncertainty Won T End With Anwar As Prime Minister

papar berkaitan - pada 18/10/2020 - jumlah : 282 hits
Mahathir Mohamad said on Friday he doubted whether opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim had the numbers in parliament to take the premiership and even if he did the country would remain in political deadlock Anwar met the country s king on Tuesd...
Good Try Prime Minister Good Bye Prime Minister

Good Try Prime Minister Good Bye Prime Minister

papar berkaitan - pada 24/10/2020 - jumlah : 293 hits
Tun M DSAI turn unlikely allies against undemocratic dictatorial Muhyiddin over state of emergency planPuchong 24 October Never thought Mahathir and Anwar would agree on anything ever again after their 22 month tale of betrayal upon betraya...
Umno S Nazri Aziz Pledges Parliamentary Support For Muhyiddin To Avert Dictatorship Through The Backdoor

Umno S Nazri Aziz Pledges Parliamentary Support For Muhyiddin To Avert Dictatorship Through The Backdoor

papar berkaitan - pada 25/10/2020 - jumlah : 314 hits
Former minister Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz has pledged to persuade his party colleagues to back Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin when he tables his maiden Budget scheduled for November in a bid to prevent the prime minister from invoking emergency rule ...
Yoursay Muhyiddin Should Take The Rotan To His Colleagues

Yoursay Muhyiddin Should Take The Rotan To His Colleagues

papar berkaitan - pada 8/10/2020 - jumlah : 232 hits
YOURSAY And let s do it in public with social distancing of course Oxymoronictendencies Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin needs to face the reality that while the majority of the rakyat adhere to the SOPs it is his colleagues who are the main...
The Planned November Vote Of No Confidence Against Muhyiddin

The Planned November Vote Of No Confidence Against Muhyiddin

papar berkaitan - pada 18/10/2020 - jumlah : 235 hits
Under normal conditions a vote of no confidence means Parliament must be dissolved and to protect democracy fresh general elections must be held Under the current New Normal conditions a vote of no confidence means Parliament must be suspen...
Pejuang Wants Mahathir As Pm For The Third Time Only Till Ge15 Replacing Muhyiddin

Pejuang Wants Mahathir As Pm For The Third Time Only Till Ge15 Replacing Muhyiddin

papar berkaitan - pada 19/10/2020 - jumlah : 339 hits
To save Malaysia of course what did you think Puchong 18 Oct It s not from the comics section I assure you Malaysiakini reported it in English and in Malay under News Berita The comments those articles solicited though OMG Those Malaysiakin...
Muhyiddin And The Puppet Strings Umno Is Preparing For Him

Muhyiddin And The Puppet Strings Umno Is Preparing For Him

papar berkaitan - pada 20/10/2020 - jumlah : 302 hits
Deny it to a king Then happy low lie down Uneasy lies the head that wears a crown William Shakespeare s Henry IV Part 2Well yes the political situation is fluid but one solid outcome of this sordid political mess is that current Prime Minis...
Flexibility In Business Operations

Umno Youth To Protest Extra Hours For Civil Servants Working Shifts

The Difference In The Concept Of Illicit Relationship Between Muslims And Non Muslims

Pensyarah Didakwa Hina Nabi Jawi Turut Buka Siasatan

Biodata Hael Husaini 2 Kali Juara Ajl Dan Perjalanan Dalam Industri Seni

Pas Langkaui Retorik Dap Isytihar Pas Muuh Utama

Murid Buktikan Pada Guru Lembu Makan Martabak

Abang Adik Wins Best Film Award In Los Angeles


echo '';
Senarai Lagu Tugasan Konsert Minggu 1 Gegar Vaganza 2024 Musim 11

Info Dan Sinopsis Drama Berepisod Dhia Kasyrani Slot Akasia TV3

Biodata Terkini Reshmonu Peserta Gegar Vaganza 2024 Musim 11 GV11 Penyanyi Lagu Hey Waley

Gegar Vaganza 2024 GV 11 Hadiah Tiket Peserta Juri Format Pemarkahan Dan Segala Info Tonton Live Di Astro Ria Dan Sooka

6 Janji Donald Trump Kalau Dia Naik Jadi Presiden Semula


Mesyuarat Mpsm Kulai Bil 3 2024

7 Keistimewaan Hari Arafah Hari Yang Dinantikan Jutaan Umat Islam

Generasi Milenial Dan Gen Z Dukung Nkri Nomor Urut 2 Simbol Harapan Baru Kalimantan Barat

Kempen Hartanah Bumiputera Matrix Miliki Rumah Selesa Cipta Kenangan Indah Bersama Keluarga

Bukan Semua Cendawan Boleh Makan Ada Yang Beracun

Wanita Bersalin Semasa Buang Air Besar