The Malaysian Insight

LINGERING questions remain on the transition of power from Dr Mahathir Mohamad to Anwar Ibrahim, which will continue to test the coalition’s strength in 2020, said Merdeka Centre in its latest survey.

In its January report, Malaysia Political Developments and Trajectories Update, the pollster said intra Pakatan Harapan (PH) factionalism is expected to intensify, generating infighting that further erodes confidence in the ruling government.

It added that the transition process has increased uncertainties over its nature, timing and outcome of the transfer of power from Dr Mahathir to Anwar.

The report said increased internal dynamics and friction between the two leaders have “increased speculation and suspicion”.

The issue of transition has been a hot topic, with Anwar’s supporters wanting to know the exact date of the handover.

Dr Mahathir, who insisted he will hand over power as promised, said last year that he will pass the baton to his successor after the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) meeting, which is to be held in November in Kuala Lumpur.

On Saturday, PKR Youth said it is important for the PH presidential council to set an exact date on the handover plan.

Apart from the transition process, having a stable government to ensure sufficient support in Parliament to introduce promised reforms is also important, said the report.

“The move to expand or gain additional support to gain a two-thirds majority in Parliament to allow for constitutional amendments is stymied by intra-coalition politics,” said the report in its concluding page.  

This was despite the loss of Cameron Highlands, Semenyih and Tg Piai by-elections last year, which should serve as a wake up call to PH, it said.

The report added that Putrajaya’s new economic initiative – Shared Prosperity Vision 2030 – which will be implemented next year, will “take too much time” to garner public support in time for the next general election.

Merdeka Centre reported that public dissatisfaction in the overall performance of the PH federal government in fulfilling the election promises shot up from 35% for 2018 to 75% last year.

The biggest gripes last year were the government’s performance in addressing the needs of low-income citizens, in which 65% of respondents are dissatisfied. This was followed by the quality of education, in which 51% of respondents are dissatisfied.

PH, along its Sabahan allies Warison and Upko, currently control 139 seats in Parliament. In the Tg Piai election last November, PH component Bersatu, chaired by Dr Mahathir, lost a seat to MCA in a landslide defeat.

The report said “many ministers and their immediate teams have had a steep learning curve” and that reforms will need time to bear fruit.

“Bureaucrats (are) also observing how things develop, (which) reminds us of Selangor and Penang in 2008.”

Aside from the transition from Dr Mahathir to Anwar, the report said other critical issues ahead include PH’s stability due to influx of former Barisan Nasional MPs, the strength and stability of the cooperation between Umno and PAS and the Sarawak state elections, which are due by next year.

It also said that the government’s measures to address B40 (bottom 40% household income group) and Bumiputera dissatisfaction remain important. – January 5, 2020.