Malaysia needs a functioning Opposition

7 February 2009

by Wan Saiful Wan Jan

Since mid-2008, former Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim popularised the notion that it was acceptable to lure government MPs to defect across party lines, to allow the Opposition to form a new government. This has now taken place, but not quite the way Anwar planned.

This time though, the opposition was represented by the UMNO-led National Front in the state of Perak. Anwar's People's Coalition state government lost power because four of their state legislative councillors defected. And as a result Malaysia is now facing a constitutional crisis.

The crisis has been made more severe by the involvement of the royal family of Perak. The current Ruler of Perak, Sultan Azlan Shah, is generally perceived as an enlightened Ruler. He was formerly Lord President of the Federal Court, and his family enjoys the respect of many Malaysians, including those who are not his subjects.

The role of the Sultan

On 5 February, Sultan Azlan rejected the request of his own Chief Minister to dissolve the state legislative assembly following the defection of four People's Coalition members. Instead, the Ruler acceded to the request of Perak's National Front, under the leadership of Deputy Prime Minister Najib Razak, to allow them to form the new state government.

Sultan Azlan's popularity declined almost immediately in the eyes of the People's Coalition supporters in particular. Theories now abound as to why such an enlightened Ruler refused to dissolve the state assembly to allow for fresh elections.

One of the conspiracy theories purports that the Ruler was under pressure from Malay supremacists both in his own palace as well as in the anchor National Front party, United Malay National Organisation (UMNO) to ensure fresh elections do not take place following the defections. If an election were to take place, as the theory goes, the People's Coalition would win an even bigger majority. There is a real fear among Malay supremacists in Perak that more Chinese politicians from the People's Coalition would have been elected. An election is simply not in their interests.

Regardless of what persuaded the Ruler to decide as he did, the reality remains that the National Front has succeded in doing what Anwar only claimed he could do. It is unsurprising that the National Front, after half a century being in power, does not enjoy being the opposition. They cannot be blamed for wanting to regain power. But it is also deeply disappointing that they seem to look at being in opposition with contempt. It is as if they are saying, either you are in government or you do not matter.

Whither the Opposition?

Malaysian politics would have matured far quickly if all the political parties, both from National Front and People's Coalition, were to accept the roles that the people voted for during the 2008 elections. At the federal level, the people decided that the People's Coalition should be in Opposition. In five states – Kedah, Perak, Pulau Pinang, Selangor and Kelantan – the people gave the mandate of being in Opposition to the National Front. Rather than bickering and tempting each other's elected members to defect, they should have focused on strengthening the institution of the Opposition.

In mature democracies, the Opposition has a very important role to play and their roles are usually formally recognised and respected.In Westminster, the Opposition is formally known as Her Majesty's Official Opposition. They are funded publicly from two sources. First, by the 'short money' which assists in the carrying out of their parliamentary business, travel and associated expenses, as well as to fund the Office of the Leader of the Opposition. Second is the Policy Development Grant, which is also available to government parties, to help with the development of policies for inclusion in their respective manifestos. The Opposition in Westminster is empowered to do what they were elected to do: to provide effective checks and balances.

With so many opposition MPs in the federal parliament and the various state legislative assemblies, Malaysian politicians had a golden opportunity to strengthen the role of the Opposition. But no one seems interested in pursuing this agenda. Opposition parties at the state level, from both the National Front and the People's Coalition have failed to organise themselves accordingly. Most cannot even form a functioning state shadow cabinet.

It is the same case at Federal level. In the eyes of the public, Anwar's People's Coalition, has been focusing more on luring National Front MPs to defect. They continue to fail to form a cohesive shadow cabinet. At times, statements made by People's Coalition MPs have been at odds with each other, even though they are on the same team.

It appears as if no one from either sides wants to see a strong Opposition in Malaysia.

The public is tired

That aside, it is becoming clear that the Malaysian public is fast becoming tired of this political drama. What they want is an effective and functioning government working for the benefit of the people, not one which lusts for power. The Malaysian public wants a stronger and more mature democracy that operates on the principle of effective checks and balances, starting with a functioning Opposition. The latest saga in Perak does not help.

The National Front in Perak may have won back the state government. But if Malaysian politicians continue down this road, both the National Front and Anwar's People's Coalition will lose a golden opportunity to create a positive legacy on Malaysian politics.

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Wan Saiful Wan Jan is Director General of the Malaysia Think Tank and Editor of www.WauBebas.org.

Copyright OpinionAsia.org. A version of this article was first published in www.OpinionAsia.com on 6 February 2009