KUALA LUMPUR – PAS secretary-general Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan has insisted that the change of government beyond the general election period is a legally accepted practice which is permissible under the federal constitution.
In a statement, today, the Kota Bharu MP criticised the recent proposal by Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi to introduce a bill preventing the change of government post election.
“It is in line with the principles of democracy practised not only in this country, but in all other countries on the condition that the parties challenging the position of the existing government can prove the majority support received either in Parliament or through other channels permitted by law.
“The federal constitution is very clear in this regard and it has been made known to all that this condition of majority support is the basis for the formation of a government legally either through the general election or at any other time,” he said.
Takiyuddin also pointed that it is also the basic condition to obtain the consent of the Yang Di-Pertuan Agong to appoint at His Majesty’s discretion a member of the Dewan Rakyat who in his opinion may gain the trust of the majority of members of the Dewan Rakyat as prime minister to chair the Cabinet of Ministers as provided in Article 43(2) )(a) Constitution.
“It is understood that a prime minister who is appointed after the general election or at any other time but then loses the confidence of the majority of members of the Dewan Rakyat has naturally lost the legitimacy of his position and must resign along with all members of his Cabinet unless at his request Parliament is dissolved by the Yang Di-Pertuan Agong as which is provided under Article 43(4) of the Constitution.
“So in that situation the Yang Di-Pertuan Agong should replace the prime minister with a party that is proven to have the support of the majority of Dewan Rakyat members,” he added.
PAS, he said, believes that the provisions of the federal constitution regarding this matter and similar practices worldwide are in line with the idea of democracy itself, that of the government being considered legitimate as long as it enjoys majority support.
Takiyuddin opined that any efforts to block or suppress such core principles either through new laws as being proposed or undemocratic actions would be deemed void.
Takiyuddin’s response comes after Zahid suggested that Putrajaya should table a fixed-term parliament bill to ensure the elected government stays in power until the end of its term.
Floating the idea, he said this will avoid the government from changing hands three times in a single term, like what took place between 2018 and 2022.
“There must be a paradigm shift among politicians so that the dominant party or coalition, with the consent of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, completes its parliamentary term.
“We do not want a repeat of the 14th term, where we witness a succession of three prime ministers in one term. The effect it has on the people and economy amid the Covid-19 pandemic is a bitter experience for the country. Investors need stability,” he had said during a press conference after a Rural and Regional Development Ministry event, yesterday.
Earlier, Johor ruler Sultan Ismail Ibrahim, who is set to become the next Yang di-Pertuan Agong on January 31, had decreed that the Madani government under the leadership of Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has to be given a longer period to administer the country as one year will not suffice to bring significant changes to the country. – January 14, 2024