KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 4 – Leaders from the Democratic Action Party (DAP), which won 40 seats in the 15th General Election, have continued their calls to the people to support the unity government of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
In a statement today, Ipoh Barat Member of Parliament and former Human Resources Minister, Kula Segaran said, “This is the Cabinet we need at the moment. It is a cabinet that has the support of all Pakatan Harapan (PH) component parties. It is a Cabinet that aims to mend the division among our people and unite us once again with a common goal.
“We are one the right track again.”
Kula said his statement was in response to many calls to him querying on why he is not in the Cabinet after winning in the election.
This is not a PH government but a unity government, and people must understand what it entails, he said, urging everyone to give full support to the new Human Resources Minister, V. Sivakumar. He has vast political experience and the capability to drive the ministry forward, he added.
On Saturday, DAP Secretary General had a press conference and explained to the media on the unity government of Anwar and also spoke of the party’s unconditional support for the prime minister and the underlying principles of the unity government.
He said that while DAP had provided its list of suggested names for the Cabinet, the prerogative of choosing the members remained with the prime minister.
He said the DAP also placed the country’s interest as a priority and that all ministers appointed would do their best in the roles given to them. He also said the principle of a unity government that requires the participation of all parties in the coalition must be respected.
Former Communication and Multimedia Minister, Gobind Singh Deo, the MP for Damansara, who was also not in the Cabinet list, said he had been asked by Anwar to join the cabinet but that he had declined.
He was also responding to queries from many quarters on why he was missing in the Cabinet list.
Gobind said he had expressed to Anwar that he will focus on his role as an MP and assist the government in all ways.
He also expressed his full confidence in the leadership of Anwar, saying that the latter would be able to take Malaysia to greater heights.
Prior to the announcement of the Cabinet members on Friday, Dec 2, DAP Chairman Lim Guan Eng had also pledged his full support for the unity government, saying that Malaysia came first and a post in the Cabinet would be secondary. He also said he would be willing to serve the government in any capacity.
Anwar’s Cabinet announcement caught many people by surprise. The addition of UMNO President Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, who is among several politicians facing court charges, as a deputy prime minister earned quite a bit of flak from Opposition politicians as well as some netizens. Just as many have also expressed their confidence in Anwar’s leadership and his Cabinet.
Zahid Hamidi was instrumental in providing the needed numbers of MP support for the unity government of Anwar to become a possibility.
Following the election on Nov 15, no single bloc gained sufficient majority to form the new government. The major winners were PH with 82 seats, Perikatan Nasional 73, BN 30 and Gabungan Party Sarawak 23.
This was followed by days of uncertainty with the political parties meeting and negotiating to form a coalition that could form the government. During this period, none of the coalitions had the simple majority needed.
As the country waited out for a new prime minister and a government, the King, Al Sultan Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah suggested that a unity government, comprising the main blocs and smaller parties be formed.
This was taken up Anwar but declined by the head of PN, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.
The new Parliament session will convene on December 19 and 20. First on the order of business will be the election of the Dewan Rakyat Speaker, followed by the swearing-in of MPs and the election of Deputy Speaker.
A motion of confidence towards Anwar’ majority in the Dewan Rakyat is also expected to be tabled on the day.
— WE