Polls might be only way to return to ‘political normalcy’, says Azalina

PETALING JAYA: Pengerang MP Azalina Othman Said says a snap general election might be the only way to return Malaysia to “political normalcy”, especially because of the uncertainty of the current government’s stability.

With the vote on the budget looming this week, she said there were more questions than answers as to how MPs would approach the supply bill, with the confidence in Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin being questioned again.

“With so much political uncertainty at the moment and confidence (and no-confidence) motions unlikely to be voted on, perhaps the only way we can return to political normalcy is to consider returning the mandate to the people.

“I echo the Umno president’s clarion call for all political parties to set aside their differences for the sake of the people and to stand united in the mandate being returned to the people because the people’s mandate is a sacred mandate,” she said in a blog post today.

The deputy Dewan Rakyat speaker and former minister pointed out that 13 countries have held general elections during the pandemic, including Singapore.

She said that during their polls in July, Singapore’s daily cases were between three and four digits, but that has now reduced to single to double figures since late August.

Azalina also proposed three “urgent” measures to prevent future political instability, including the tabling of an anti-party-hopping bill and another bill to regulate parties in a coalition government, compelling them to enter into a shared agenda and policies agreement.

“Seal (this) with a tabling of a bill somewhat similar to the Fixed-term Parliaments Act 2011 in the United Kingdom,” she said

Once stability is restored and these safeguards are established, she said, then politicians can focus their efforts on governing responsibly.

“Until then, Malaysia continues to see desperate times with desperate measures reigning over her,” she said.