Enter the New Opposition
While still smarting from their shock defeat, Barisan Nasional parties and others knuckle down to their new role.
THE before and after couldn’t be more starkly different.
Before Parliament was dissolved on April 7, Barisan Nasional MPs had ruled the front bench in the Dewan Rakyat for more than six decades. After GE14, when the new Parliament met on July 16, BN MPs found themselves on the unfamiliar opposition bench.
The make-up of the new Opposition is also unprecedented in that while BN and PAS form the bloc, the the former BN component parties in Sarawak have set up their own coalition - Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) - with their 19 MPs sitting as independents after they quit the former ruling coalition on June 12. GPS comprises Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB), Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP), Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) and Progressive Democratic Party (PDP).
During the first few days, it was hard for them to hide their discomfort. But that soon disappeared as the BN MPs got used to their new role. As for the 18 PAS MPs, it was business as usual for them, although they were sitting with former government leaders instead of the likes of DAP and PKR members.
Former Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi is fired up in his new role as Opposition Leader.
“We will keep the Pakatan Harapan government on its toes 24/7. We are not going to oppose just for the sake of opposing but will enlighten the rakyat on why we oppose an issue, programme or project,” he says.
He adds the Opposition will monitor and analyse every statement issued by ministers and other government leaders.
“We want to be a constructive as well as an effective opposition that watches every step and action of the Pakatan government. So far, from our observation, they have not fully kept their 100-day pledges in the election manifesto. They are taking the rakyat for a ride and we will share with the people why the Pakatan government have failed. They cannot just keep blaming the previous government,” he says.
To be an effective Opposition, BN is mulling over forming a shadow Cabinet to play the check-and-balance role more effectively. After all, as Ahmad Zahid points out, BN has many MPs who are ex-ministers and deputy ministers who would easily qualify.
As for the Sarawak bloc, it’s a case of “so far so good”, says Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg .
That’s how the Sarawak Chief Minister describes the working relationship between the state and federal governments.
“After the election I met the Prime Minister. I told him we can collaborate with the Pakatan Harapan federal government for the sake of the country and the people. We will also support policies that will benefit Sarawak but if they don’t, then we may abstain (in the voting process).
“This is the first time in country’s history when the federal government is not the same as the state government in terms of political parties, but so far we have been doing quite well,” says Abang Johari.
He is heartened by the visits of various federal ministers to Sarawak where they showed they were open to discussions and identifying projects that both the federal and state governments could work on together.
Abang Johari says GPS will not join Pakatan but will have a friendly relationship with it.
“They have to review whatever policies that were before. That’s why some projects may be postponed. That is fair because they are the new government,” he adds. While he sees the PH Government as still in a transition period and is willing to give it time to settle in, PRS president Tan Sri James Masing, is less accommodating. To him, Pakatan’s progress in keeping its 100-day promises is unimpressive so far. On the 20% oil royalty and returning Sarawak’s rights, he rated Pakatan zero out of 10. “Malaysians, including Sarawakians, have been tricked by Pakatan with their unattainable manifesto. Now they are wriggling their way out of the hole of broken promises. Just do what is right for the people of Sarawak and don’t lie to gain public acceptance,” he says. PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang shares Masing’s views. The long-time Marang MP says Malaysians should, by now, open their eyes and judge for themselves how PH has fared thus far.
He says Pakatan is now caught in its own web of promises which it cannot fulfill on time.
He believes it will be impossible for PH to deliver on pledges such as bringing down fuel prices and fighting inflation within the timeframe they set for themselves. The reintroduction of the Sales and Service Tax in September will also bring the same burden on the people as the Goods and Services Tax, he says.
“But if they extend the deadline now, their promises will turn into lies. So instead of pinching with the right hand, they now pinch with the left. Nothing has changed. What they should have done was to find an alternative tax system that is not a burden to the people and perhaps only impose it on the rich,” he adds.
Hadi also says the PAS-led state government will continue to push the new federal government to fulfil its oil royalty promises to Terengganu.
“We will continue fighting for the 5% royalty quantum. That is our priority.”
MCA, while practically decimated in the GE14 and left with just one seat in Parliament, remains resolute it will play its part in keeping a watchful eye over PH to protect the people’s interests.
Its religious harmony bureau chairman, Datuk Seri Ti Lian Ker, who was sworn in as a Dewan Negara senator, says this is necessary because since coming into power, PH is “like a new religion” to their euphoric supporters.
“There is always danger when power is near absolute and upon the demolition of BN, PH is becoming all almighty and arrogant,” he adds.
Ti says Pakatan has failed to achieve most of its 100-day promises.
“For example, Dr Mahathir now says the PTPTN debt is almost equal to the 1MDB debts. That means the young people who voted for them because they believed in PH’s promise of deferring PTPTN payment will be disappointed.
“What about EPF for housewives, abolishing the debt of Felda settlers and raising the minimum wage nationally? (Finance Minister)
Lim Guan Eng has said the raising minimum wage for east Malaysia isn’t possible due to the RM1trillion debt left behind by the previous government.
“They have used this RM1trillion debt, which has been disputed, as their mantra for breaking their promises. They can’t keep blaming everything on the BN government. Eventually, the rakyat will wise up and see through their smoke screen. It’s time for Pakatan to own up to some of their mistakes and not take the voters for fools.”
Ti, however, accepts the people’s choice of PH which serves as a “good reminder to BN and especially Umno that they are not politically invincible.”
He says MCA will continue to be brave and not bow down to extremist views. “We must take heed of the 2013 and 2018 polls that show it pays to be steadfast and stand firm on what we believe in, even at the expense of losing friends and elections. We must not tolerate any extreme views, even from our BN partners. “
As far as Gerakan is concerned, the PH government has failed to make good its election promises.
“The Pakatan’s manifesto said it would rationalise subsidies. But, during the election campaign, PH leaders told the people they would lower fuel prices. But RON95 has remained at RM2.20 after 100 days,” says its Youth Chief Tan Keng Liang.
Both Ti and Tan also hit out at PH’s dithering over the recognition of the Unified Examination Certificate (UEC).
“What’s so difficult about recognising the UEC? If they want to put conditions on recognising the UEC, such as passing Bahasa Malaysia as a prerequisite, that is okay,” says Tan.
He adds that the PM should override the Education Minister Dr Maszlee Malik’s view that UEC recognition can only come after a five-year thorough and holistic study is completed.
“But Perak MB Ahmad Faizal Azumu has expressed his state’s intention to recognise the UEC so why is it so difficult for the federal level to make the same decision?”
Ti adds that if BN had won, “we would’ve recognised it immediately as we had made a decision and a commitment in our manifesto. The BN record shows we deliver what we promise.”