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Summary

The Malaysian political landscape was plunged into mayhem amid talks of a new coalition being formed when several leaders – aligned with Datuk Seri Azmin Ali – gathered at the Sheraton Hotel in Petaling Jaya. The rumors were further fuelled when six political leaders from Bersatu, PAS, UMNO, and PKR were granted an audience with the Yang di-Pertuan Agong. The real chaos started to ensue when Tun Dr Mahathir resigned as the Prime Minister and Chairperson of Bersatu, followed by the collapse of the Pakatan Harapan coalition due to the exit of 11 MPs from PKR and 26 MPs from Bersatu, not long after their shock victory in GE14. We have prepared a detailed timeline at the end of this article.

What happens next? 

In order for any party or coalition to rule the country, they would need to secure a simple majority in the Dewan Rakyat – requiring at least 112 of the 222 seats. With Pakatan Harapan losing their simple majority, there is a range of scenarios that can play out, including a snap election. 

As no coalition currently has a simple majority, the country seems to be headed towards a hung parliament. Such a parliament is not uncommon. Take the 2017 UK Election, for example: Theresa May’s Conservative Government lost their working majority and entered a minority government with the DUP of Northern Ireland. This is a possible scenario in Malaysia – the Yang di-Pertuan Agong can install a minority government if there are enough supporting MPs. MPs need to support the government to ensure that there are sufficient votes to survive no-confidence motions, pass budgets, and secure essential legislation. Such governments would face more difficulty in governing the country as passing bills would require collaboration with the opposition.

Another possibility is a unity government. This is where the Yang di-Pertuan Agong exercises his influence to lobby with MPs and facilitate the formation of an interim government. Unlike the previous scenario, it puts the onus on the Yang di-Pertuan Agong to help form the government in his role as head of state. This is in accordance with Article 43(2)(a) of the Federal Constitution, whereby the Yang di-Pertuan Agong will appoint an MP he believes is “likely to command the confidence of the majority of the members of the (lower) House.” While such a move is unprecedented in Malaysian history, the Yang di-Pertuan Agong is currently in the process of carrying this out. His Majesty and the Chief Secretary, Datuk Seri Zuki Mohd Ali will be conducting interviews with all 222 MPs at the Royal Palace to ascertain who commands majority support.

What if a snap election is called? 

Given the uncertainty surrounding the current political landscape, there is a possibility that the Yang di-Pertuan Agong might call a snap election on the advice of the Prime Minister. In light of this, we would like to advocate that the youth enlighten ourselves on what rights we can exercise and steps we can take.

With the passing of the Undi18 bill, can 18-21 year olds vote? 

Unfortunately, no. The Chairman of the Election Commission (EC), Azizan Azhar Harun, has confirmed that if an election takes place prior to the implementation of Undi18, those aged 18-21 are unable to vote in the polls. 

This is because the newly enfranchised population would not be within the registered voter list. Furthermore, the timeframe set by the Election Commission for full implementation of Undi18 bill is 18-24 months from last July. This timeframe, whilst seemingly long, accounts for the establishing of a timeline, cost analysis, upgrading of the ICT system, and the collation of data from the National Registration Department, Prisons Department, the Court, as well as the Health Ministry. Unfortunately, calls to expedite the process will not be entertained, as this must be done in parliament. Given the dissolution of the Cabinet, and in turn, a functioning government, this will only further delay the full implementation of the Undi18 Bill.

However, for those aged 21 and over, you have the ability to vote. Hence, we encourage you to register yourself on the Suruhanjaya Pilihan Raya (SPR) portal as soon as possible. This will enable you to be on the registered voter list – failure to do so will render you unable to vote. To register, all you need is a valid mobile phone number, email address, image of the front of your MyKad, and a selfie with your MyKad – simple enough! However, do note that if you were to register today, you will only be on the registration list by July. If a snap election were to happen prior to July, you will not be able to vote. Nonetheless, we still encourage all of you to take that first step and register – even if you will not be able to vote in a possible upcoming snap election, you should not rob yourself of an opportunity to vote in the next election.

For those who are living overseas, do not fret, you have the option to vote through the postal system. The eligibility criteria for this are as follows:

1. You must be a registered/valid voter.
2. You must have lived in or returned to Malaysia for 30 days or more in the past 5 years.
3. You are not currently living in either Southern Thailand, Singapore, Brunei, or Kalimantan.

With political turmoil still ongoing and the outcome of a snap election still possible, you have a responsibility to exercise your right to vote. 

Timeline of events 

23rd February 2020: 

1. Azmin Ali’s reform agenda and a new backdoor government/coalition? 
   • Datuk Seri Azmin Ali and his allies in PKR held a meeting at the Sheraton Petaling Jaya hotel.
   • They were later joined by leaders from Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu), UMNO, and PAS. 
   • This gathering stirred rumours of a new political coalition, likely to be named “Perikatan Nasional”, with a faction led by Datuk Seri Azmin.

24th February 2020:

1. Tun Dr Mahathir resigns as Prime Minister 
   • Tun Dr Mahathir submitted a letter of resignation to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong according to a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office.

     

2. Tun Dr Mahathir’s Bersatu decides to leave the ruling coalition Pakatan Harapan
   • In a media statement at 2 pm, Bersatu Party President Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin announced that the decision to leave Pakatan Harapan was based on the current political development and the future of the country. 
   • All Bersatu elected representatives signed a statutory declaration supporting Tun Dr Mahathir as the Prime Minister of Malaysia.
     
     
3.  Ten MPs led by Datuk Seri Azmin Ali leave PKR and PH.
   • The ten MPs and Datuk Seri Azmin announced their decision to leave PKR and Pakatan Harapan to form an independent block in parliament.
     
     
4.  Pakatan Harapan Government collapses after losing their majority in parliament
   • Because of the 26 Bersatu MPs and 11 MPs from PKR quitting Pakatan Harapan, the ruling coalition went from having 139 MPs to 102, short of the 10 MPs needed to form the minimum majority of 112 MPs. 
     
     
5. PKR sacks their two top leaders, Datuk Seri Azmin Ali and Zuraida Kamaruddin. 
   • Datuk Seri Azmin Ali and Zuraida Kamaruddin, PKR Deputy President and Vice President respectively, has been sacked by the party’s central leadership for “their betrayal against party principles and for causing instability to the former PH-led government”.

     

      

6.  The Yang di-Pertuan Agong accepts Tun Dr Mahathir’s resignation as Prime Minister, appoints him as interim Prime Minister 
   • The YdPA has appointed Tun Dr Mahathir as the interim Prime Minister until a head of government is appointed.
   • The YdPA also cancelled the appointment of the current Cabinet lineup after being advised by Tun Dr Mahathir.
   • The duties of members of the administration (Deputy Prime Minister, Ministers, and Deputy Ministers) has then ceased effective on the same date.

     

25th February 2020:

1. Bersatu rejects Tun Dr Mahathir’s resignation as Chairman
   • Tun Dr Mahathir sent in his resignation letter to Bersatu shortly after resigning from his position as Prime Minister, however, it was rejected by a unanimous decision made by the party’s supreme council.
   • “We want Dr Mahathir to continue leading Bersatu and our country to bring us to greater heights,” said Mohd Rafiq Naizamohideen, a supreme council member.