Return voting power to the people only as last resort to end political crisis

Return the voting power to the rakyat if there is no end in sight to the country’s political crisis, said Professor Dr Mohd Azizuddin Mohd Sani.

The political analyst from Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM), however, observed it may not come to that as the crisis in the Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) has not led to instability in the country's administration.

What is more important now, he added, is for the current Perikatan Nasional (PN) government under the leadership of Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin to stay focused on combating the COVID-19 pandemic and revitalising the economy that has been severely affected by the outbreak.

“I don't think it has reached that point (to dissolve Parliament). It means that there are other important matters that need to be addressed. At the same time, the Perikatan Nasional government is also trying to strengthen the administration.

“In this context, I think that the opportunity should be given to PN. If they fail, only then we have to consider other alternatives and may have to seek the mandate from the people again through the general election,” he added.

The political crisis seemed to have subsided during the start of the Movement of Control Order (MCO) in mid-March when Pakatan Harapan (PH) claimed to have secured the majority to regain control of the government.

Besides that, the crisis in Bersatu became the focal point when former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad insisted he was still the legitimate chairman of the party.

In addition, the Langkawi Member of Parliament regarded Muhyiddin's action to orchestrate Bersatu’s exit from PH as a violation of the constitution of the party that was founded by the former.