Analyst to Muhyiddin: Emulate ex-South Korean president to resolve political crisis

Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin could emulate the late South Korean President Kim Young-Sam in order to avoid Perikatan Nasional (PN) government from falling after Umno declined to be part of the ruling coalition.

Speaking with Malaysiakini, political scientist Wong Chin Huat said Muhyiddin could split Umno by persuading the dissident lawmakers to continue to support him.

"Muhyiddin may turn this crisis into an opportunity by position himself as Malaysia's Kim Young-Sam, the South Korean president who saw two of his predecessors jailed for corruption and coup after collaborating with them," he said.

"Counter-intuitively, this may actually strengthen Bersatu, help Muhyiddin to look like Kim and even cause a split in Umno," he said.

Kim, who served as the president between 1993 and 1998, was seen as an important figure in South Korea's pro-democracy and opposed the country's military dictators for decades.

Wong pointed out that Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi (photo, below) may not be able to represent the entire party when the latter announced that Umno would not join PN but would strengthen Muafakat Nasional (MN) instead.

He said Muhyiddin could eye the support from these dissident Umno MPs.

Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Khairy Jamaluddin was reportedly wanted the party to move on, said Wong.

"Even senior leaders and ministers like Ismail Sabri Yaakob and Annuar Musa may not have much to gain from the rehabilitation and return of Najib Abdul Razak and Zahid," he said.

Wong said there is no need for a coalition government to have a common brand name.

"Without Umno, PN will be reduced to a minority government but losing a majority is not equivalent to losing the confidence of Parliament," he added.

He said Umno, which controls 39 parliamentary seats, could not bring down the government on its own without the explicit support of the opposition.

Beside Umno, Wong also said Muhyiddin could reach out to the opposition for a Confidence and Supply agreement, which could enable a minority government to retain power in the lower house, as practised in the parliamentary democracy based on the Westminster system.

Wong said this is beneficial to the opposition as it could seize this opportunity to push for major reforms.

This included separating the Public Prosecutor's Office from Attorney General's Chambers, reform in party finance and constituency development fund, he said.

"They can also push for an extensive parliamentary reform, including the setting up of parliamentary committees, recognition of shadow cabinet and channel for private member's bills," added Wong.

Universiti Malaya associate professor Awang Azman Awang Pawi read Zahid's announcement of not joining PN as the first step of Umno and PAS dumping Bersatu.

"At first, Umno distant itself from Bersatu, it said Bersatu applied to join MN. Even so, they would continue to delay (the approval process)," he said.

It is better for Umno and PAS to negotiate the seat allocation in between them for general elections rather than diluting the resources between three parties, according to him.

He noted that tension will be built up against Muhyiddin in the November sitting in Dewan Rakyat when PN government need enough MPs to pass the 2021 Budget.

He said the situation may force Muhyiddin to dissolve the Parliament and MN could win the general election.

He believed that the MN would not be a Malay-dominant government as it would continue to cooperate with GPS, which support the government of the day.

Awang said Muhyiddin, however, could try to reverse the situation if the second layer of Umno leadership, particularly those who are in Muhyiddin's cabinet, takes over the party leadership via the party poll, which is slated to be held next year.

There are currently nine Umno ministers in Muhyiddin's cabinet while another nine of them were appointed as deputy ministers.

The appointment was in line with Muhyiddin's pledge to have a 'clean cabinet'.

Currently, PN controls 112 parliamentary seats while there are 108 opposition MPs.

Out of the 108 opposition MPs, 91 of them are from Pakatan Harapan, nine are from Warisan, one is from Upko, and two are from Parti Sarawak Bersatu (PSB). Mahathir's faction controls six seats.

Lubok Antu MP Jugah Muyang who quit PKR in June has pledged to support PN.

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