Allow Parliament to test new PM’s support

Aliran is appalled over the ousting of a democratically elected government by MPs who cast aside the five-year mandate given by voters in the last general election.

The people’s will in 2018 has been thwarted.

It seems that we are now going to be governed by a new coalition that includes a number of questionable characters. This can only be described as an extraordinary subversion of democracy.

For far too many of our politicians, words like integrity, honesty and accountability apparently no longer apply. Instead what has been exposed are self-serving and scheming individuals, manipulating events for their own benefit and agenda.

Aliran urges that the scheduled 9 March parliamentary sitting should go ahead as planned. Any delay will prolong the political uncertainty and allow time for unethical deals to entice support.

Parliament is meant to represent the people’s voice through their elected representatives. It is thus the most appropriate avenue to test if the newly appointed prime minister really commands the confidence of the majority of MPs.

Pakatan Harapan should be allowed to bring up a vote of no-confidence to see if the newly appointed PM has a simple majority in Parliament. This should be the first order of business.

If the newly appointed PM is unable to command a majority, then the PH leader should be given a chance to show he has the majority.

Whichever leader can command the majority should be allowed to form the government and see through the remaining three years of the five-year term.

If the situation cannot be resolved through this process, it may be necessary to call for a snap general election.

This country needs leaders of integrity who can place principles and the interests of ordinary people above selfish political ambitions and polarising communal politics.