The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on Transformation and Political Stability signed today between the Federal Government and Pakatan Harapan (PH) is a resounding victory for the rakyat that would bring forward necessary and lasting reforms to the country. Furthermore, the MoU will undoubtedly initiate a unified, whole-of-society aproach in our nation’s fight against Covid-19 and its adverse effect on the rakyat’s lives and livelihoods.
The reform deal with the Federal Government is in line with the Yang di-Pertuan Agong’s decree for a bipartisan cooperation between the Government and the Opposition in order to return political stability to Malaysia so as to steer our nation out of the Covid-19 pandemic and its scathing impact on our economy.
The Transformation and Political Stability MoU will cover these specific reforms which will be further elaborated in an official statement tomorrow:
- Strengthening of the Covid-19 plan
- Governance transformation
- Parliamentary reforms
- Ensuring Judicial independence
- The Malaysia Agreement 1963
- The formation of a steering committee
Furthermore, the MoU will also include a conditional promise by Pakatan Harapan to not oust Ismail Sabri as Prime Minister nor will Budget 2022 be blocked in Parliament. A dissolution of Parliament will also not be pursued up until 31 July 2022.
Given that the MoU includes several imperative reforms that are beneficial for the rakyat, the agreement is a historic victory for Pakatan Harapan as it puts the Opposition at an advantage in delivering reforms and initiatives that are beneficial for all Malaysians.
1. It will launch major progressive reforms for Malaysia
The MoU includes reforms that would ensure political stability in our country such as an Anti-Party-Hopping law. This will prevent the rakyat’s mandate from being stolen ever again in the future such as what happened during the infamous Sheraton Move in February 2020.
Besides that, several Parliamentary reforms have also been agreed upon in order to empower the Legislative arm to provide proper check and balance to the Executive. These include a reform on the composition of the Parliamentary Select Committees which will make it more balanced when it comes to drafting and approving laws.
The MoU will also safeguard the independence of our Judiciary and would prevent any hidden hands from tempering with our justice system. Moreover, the MoU also agrees to revisit Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) and reinstate the rights of Sabah and Sarawak as prescribed by MA63.
Other reforms include the implementation of Undi18 and automatic voters registration being expedited and will ensure eligible Malaysians be allowed to vote in the next General Election.
2. The Federal Government is now forced to listen to demands by the Opposition
The Transformation and Political Stability MoU essentially means that the Federal Government is now dependant on Opposition’s support. Therefore, all future bills tabled in Parliament must include views and insights from the Opposition.
Hence, the government MUST consult with the Opposition before the tabling of any bills, including the 2022 Budget which is a victory for the rakyat as Pakatan Harapan would ensure the voices and demands of the rakyat be implemented in each bill.
Therefore this MoU will put the Opposition at an advantage because if the government doesn’t adhere to the demands, the bills will be objected and conversely, if the demands are followed, the Opposition will be supporting or abstaining during the voting process in Parliament.
3. The MoU will be void if the government fails to deliver the agreed reforms in a set timeline
The agreement further puts the Opposition at an advantage by setting a specified timeline for the agreed reforms to be fulfilled by the government. If they fail to do so, the agreement will be void and the conditional support will cease to be.
This condition thus alleviate concerns that the promises in the MoU by the Federal Government are mere empty promises as the onus is on them to deliver the agreed reforms or risk crumbling.
4. The MoU ensures our country can fully focus on fighting Covid-19 and reviving the economy
Another condition of the MoU includes an agreement that Parliament won’t be dissolved before 31 July 2022, thus allowing Malaysia to focus on winning the war against Covid-19 and reviving our economy that have been heavily affected by the pandemic.
Furthermore, the MoU also strengthens Malaysia’s Covid-19 plan with proper approaches in dealing with the pandemic that are based on science and data, including the implementation of the ‘Find, Test, Trace, Isolate, Support and Vaccinate’ (FTTIS + V) strategy and the roping in of the private sector to deal with the pandemic, in line with a ‘whole of nation’ approach.
Therefore, this Mou on Transformation and Political Stability is a resounding victory for Pakatan Harapan and the rakyat which will have a positive lasting impact on our nation as a whole. – The Rocket.
