Terence Fernandez：版图重整，继续前进

马来西亚新政权已成立了两个星期。

尽管许多人仍对不经选举而更换政权感到不满，但现实是，我们须控制著这股情绪，并等待未来三年内举行的第15届大选。当然，如果新政府在5月18日的国会开会时失去信任动议，大选最早可能就会落在6月。

内阁成员理念不同

然而，敦马哈迪预言，这个新政府将可维持三年。而原本被视为第8任首相人选的拿督斯里安华则呼吁党员团结一致，共赴时艰。尤其国会在穆斯林斋戒月期间召开，在强调相互宽恕的情境下，令人怀疑，慕尤丁政府会被罢免。此外，政治交易将继续发生，直到其中一方获得满意的多数票，而优势看来是在慕尤丁这边。

我们现在需要的是有才能的政治家和强大的反对力量，以制衡那些通过非民主却符合宪法手段，夺取权力的人。

马哈迪和安华，是符合以上条件的人选。尤其后者在慕尤丁与阿兹敏策划政变后的反应，依然显得宽宏大量。

与其呼吁公民抗命和到街头抗议，安华呼吁人民重新团结，因为国家需在现任政府领导下继续前进，以应对全球经济和公共卫生危机。安华也表明了自己的立场（支持者会说是原则），拒绝加入新政府。他也扮演著反对党领袖的角色，质疑内阁的“廉洁度”。安华应该继续推动希盟竞选宣言内的改革议程。

至于马哈迪，他应确保，其执政时推动，要把马来西亚打造为一个清廉，免于腐败的国家计划──“2019-2023年国家反贪污计划”不会胎死腹中。

在慕尤丁新首相内阁中的一些面孔，让人感觉到，他之前曾声言，不会委任有诚信与廉正问题的人担任正副部长，只是一些应酬话。

这是一个由拥有不同要求和理念的政治人物和政党组成的政府，就像希盟一样。不同的是，希盟有竞选宣言，国民联盟政府却是由跳槽者组成的政党和投机主义的政党结合而成的。

选举制度、警队、言论自由和媒体等体制改革，会否还是慕尤丁政权的优先事项？在新政府成立前，当局就援引《煽动法令》对付社运分子，更是令人不安。

反对党应坚守岗位

由安华领导的希盟，可能是我国有史以来，最强大的反对党。希盟拥有的议席与国民联盟似乎一样，随时可以取代国民联盟。

刚下野的希盟就应质问新任财长东姑扎夫鲁，这名曾是马哈迪上台时欲撤除的官联公司高层，其在2018年大选时，与其他官联公司首席执行员一起录歌“歌颂”纳吉政权者，他将如何实施200亿令吉的经济振兴配套。

前妇女部部长拿督斯里旺阿兹莎和副部长杨巧双，也应继续施压现有的部长丽娜和副部长西蒂再拉，更努力地去推动解决家庭暴力和童婚问题，纵观西蒂再拉过去的言行，其使命似乎是要将妇女带回黑暗时代。

希盟和国民联盟都有许多待改善的地方。双方的时间都不多。希盟需要重新获得选民的信任──许多人认为，希盟的内斗和马哈迪无诚意的交棒已典当了他们的支持。

随著叛变者的跳槽和退党，公正党将可进一步的“净化”，并可在来临的第15届大选中，以更廉洁，更有素质的候选人，跟国民联盟一争天下。

另一方面，国民联盟能否在接下来不到3年内，在面对最具挑战的全球危机中，实现经济成长？在我国需要采取积极进取和创新的方式来推销棕油产品，以应对西方的敌对论述时，国民联盟委任了伊党的伊斯兰学者拿督凯鲁丁阿曼为种植及原产业部长，不禁令人对国民联盟政府能力充满质疑。

话虽如此，这个新政府在某方面似乎走出了希盟政府陷入的困境。如您是否注意到社交媒体上的种族主义者突然变得静静了？

《版图重整，继续前进》（Moving on as battle lines are redrawn）原文：

TWO weeks have passed since the formation of Malaysia Terbaru (Newer Malaysia).

While many are still seething over the change in government sans the ballot box, reality would have us keep our emotions in check and look at the next three years when the 15th General Election will be held.

Of course, it could be as early as June if the new government loses a vote of confidence when Parliament convenes on May 18.

However, the oracle that is Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad has predicted that this government will last for three years.

Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim who was meant to be the eight prime minister, has also called for the closing of ranks. 

And with the Dewan Rakyat convening right in the middle of the fasting month, where Muslims practice mutual forgiveness and letting bygones be bygones, one is skeptical that Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin’s government will be ousted.

Moreover, the horse trading will continue until one side has a comfortable majority and fortune seems to favour Muhyiddin.

What we need now is statesmanship and a formidable opposition to keep in check those who have attained power through undemocratic but alas, Constitutional means.

The person who can provide these are Dr Mahathir and Anwar.

The latter’s reaction following the coup by the Muhyiddin -Datuk Seri Azmin Ali combo was that of magnanimity.

Instead of calling for civil disobedience and street protests, he had called for closing ranks as the country needs to move on under the current government to face the global economic and health crisis.

Anwar also demonstrated his position (supporters would say, principles) by refusing to be part of the new government.

His curt comments questioning the “purity” of the cabinet line-up is him doing the job of the opposition leader.

Anwar should continue with championing the reform policies that had been enshrined in the Pakatan Harapan (PH) manifesto.

Dr Mahathir too should ensure that among others, the National Anti-Corruption Plan (NACP) 2019-2023 to make Malaysia a nation with integrity and free from corruption, which was his baby, is not derailed.

Seeing some of the faces in his new Cabinet, one cannot be faulted for feeling that the new Prime Minister was merely paying lip service when he said only those with integrity and free from the perception of corruption will be appointed as ministers and deputy ministers.

This is a government that was formed by politicians and parties with different needs and agendas, just like PH before. However where PH had a manifesto, Perikatan Nasional (PN) is a formation of party hoppers and opportunistic political parties.

Will the institutional changes such as electoral reform, policing the police, freedom of speech and the media be a priority of Muhyiddin’s administration? 

That the Sedition Act was used on an activist even before the government was formed is not encouraging. The new opposition block lead by Anwar is probably the strongest opposition we have.With almost as many numbers as PN, it can effect changes from the PN government.

The new opposition should quiz newly-minted Finance Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz, one of the “budak pancaragam” (band boys) who was initially on Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s hit list on how he was going to implement the RM20 billion economic stimulus package.

The likes of Datuk Seri Dr. Wan Azizah Wan Ismail and Hannah Yeoh who until two weeks ago were minister and deputy minister of the Women, Family and Community Development respectively should press for the ongoing efforts to address domestic violence and child marriages more effectively on their successors – Datuk Seri Rina Harun and Siti Zailah Mohd Yusoff – the latter who seems to have a mission of bringing women back to the dark ages.

Both PN and PH have a lot to prove. The clock is ticking on both sides. PH needs to regain the trust of the electorate – many of whom feel their votes were squandered by the coalition’s infighting and Dr.Mahathir’s insincerity in passing the baton to Anwar.

With the purification of PKR following the defections, it could pose a bigger threat to PN in GE 15 with better quality candidates who demonstrate integrity.

PN on the other hand could go down as the most efficient government this nation has had considering it has less than three years to deliver on the economy during one of the most challenging global crisis although the choice of Islamic scholar PAS’ Dr Mohd Khairuddin Aman Razali as Plantations and Commodities Minister – at a time when we need to adopt aggressive and creative ways to market our plantation products against hostile Western narratives –  is questionable.

Having said that, this new government seems to achieve something that bogged the previous administration.

Have you noticed that the racists on social media have suddenly gone silent?