I refer to the current uncertainties over the choice for the premiership should the opposition coalition win the next general election.

Some believe the choice should be announced now to avoid ambiguity and future conflicts, in addition to providing extra oomph for the electorate.

On the other hand, some are of the view that the choice is not a major concern right now. Naming the PM may create divisions and conflicts among the various opposition parties. What the opposition coalition needs is a clear agenda for the people. The opposition must continue to bring into focus issues that are uppermost in the hearts and minds of the people.

The views from both camps above are valid. However, I would prefer that the opposition look at the position of the PM in true Westminster tradition rather than on what is currently practised in the country today.

Many are apprehensive who should become the PM of Malaysia because over time, past and present, PMs have accumulated enormous power to themselves. It would appear that the PM is everything nowadays; other institutions of government do not seem to matter much.

We are in this predicament because we have allowed power to consolidate and concentrate in the hand of one single individual either through omission, neglect or apathy.

I think what the opposition must do now is to make the position of PM bounded by the Westminster tradition again, not as currently being practised in Malaysia.

With this, the oppositions must begin work to circumscribe the power of PM. He is only ‘the first among equals’ in the cabinet. The nation’s financial comptroller, i.e. the finance minister (in the UK, the chancellor of the exchequer) must be separate and distinct from the premiership.

The cabinet should rightly be the policy and decision-making body. The PM has no right to make unilateral decisions unless with full concurrence of the cabinet.

It is common nowadays for the PM and other cabinet Ministers to announce programmes and projects that involve additional budgetary allocations on the spur of the moment without deliberation or study.

I think the opposition must try to stop this practice by making sure that future supplementary allocations are not blank cheques for their preferred PM.

Right now, there are programmes already in the budget which are denied funding (due to so-called budget cuts) while new programmes requiring additional funding are routinely announced whenever the PM and other ministers make visits to their respective constituencies.

This is wrong and untenable. The opposition must sure that their future PM and cabinet ministers do not behave the same.

To me, it does not really matter the PM candidacy is announced now or later. The most important thing for the opposition is to allow the Westminster model to work again. The PM is not a president, much less a dictator or an emperor.

It is more effective to restrict the power of PM to within the Westminster tradition rather than trying to select a ‘right’ candidate for PM. When power is shared and moderated by checks and balances, the probability of abuse is less. When the power of PM is bounded, the damage inflicted would be less even if a wrong candidate is chosen. My two cents worth.