Closing ranks: Ahmad Zahid (front, second from left) posing for pictures at the Rural and Regional Development Ministry retreat in Kuala Lumpur. — Bernama
KUALA LUMPUR: A specific law should be introduced to allow any government to remain in power and complete its full five-year term, says Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, following the latest rumours of another plot to oust the unity government.
The Deputy Prime Minister said if a single party or a coalition of smaller parties managed to form a government and received the consent of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, then it should remain in power until the end of its term.
This would put an end to constant plots to topple the government and increase political stability, he added.
“Or else, we will experience similar incidents like before and it will not be good for the country,” he told a press conference after attending the Rural and Regional Development Ministry’s retreat session at hotel here yesterday.
Ahmad Zahid comments come in the wake of an alleged conspiracy called the “Dubai Move” where certain Opposition leaders allegedly attempted to buy over enough government MPs to deny the current administration the requisite simple majority in Parliament in order to rule.
However, top federal Opposition leaders, including Perikatan Nasional chairman Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, have described these allegations as “nonsensical libel”.
Ahmad Zahid also said he has no further information on the latest rumours, which allegedly includes a plan to bribe the out-going Yang Di-Pertuan Agong with RM1bil to allow a change in government.
Ahmad Zahid, who is also Barisan Nasional chairman, said there should be a change of mindset to ensure that political parties that received the King’s consent to form the government should be allowed to carry out their duties until the end of their term.
“We do not want to see what happened previously, where there were changes of three prime ministers in a single term. This will affect the people and economic growth will be disrupted.
“On top of that, at that time, the country also experienced the Covid-19 pandemic and it was a bitter experience for us,” he added.
Malaysia saw a change of three prime ministers in the parliamentary term from 2018 to 2022, starting with the so-called Sheraton Move which brought down the Pakatan Harapan administration in 2020.
Ahmad Zahid, who is also Rural and Regional Development Minister, described that period as a “painful experience.”
“There is stability under the Madani government following the decree by His Majesty to form a unity government, and therefore this must be defended,” he said of the administration that was formed by former political rivals after the 15th General Election.
