PETALING JAYA: While the Opposition appeared jubilant over the failure of the constitutional amendment Bill on the Prime Minister’s tenure, government MPs including members of the executive, were disappointed.
Eight MPs from the government bench were also absent during the vote, which saw the attempt to institute reforms fail.
“Pakatan Harapan MPs saw a 100% attendance and they came to support. But there were eight government MPs who were absent,” Deputy Dewan Rakyat Speaker Alice Lau said in a Facebook post.
Transport Minister Anthony Loke, the Seremban MP, was also disappointed.
He said all 40 DAP MPs had supported the Bill.
“DAP made a serious and determined effort to realise this reform agenda.
“Civil society and voters who wish to see institutional reform must condemn and question these MPs and the opposition bloc,” Loke said.
Investment, Trade and Industry Deputy Minister Sim Tze Tzin said Malaysia had missed an opportunity to make the country more democratic.
“It takes a reform-minded PM to push to limit his own power. Not many world leaders would voluntarily do so,” the Bayan Baru MP said in praising Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
“PMX did his best. However, we were short of two votes. Disappointed,” he added.
From the Opposition bench, Pasir Mas MP Ahmad Fadhli Shaari said this was the first time a Bill had been unsuccessful under Anwar’s government.
Fellow Perikatan Nasional MP Datuk Mas Ermieyati Samsudin (Masjid Tanah) was jubilant.
“It feels especially sweet to break fast today,” she said in a post.
Universiti Malaya socio-political analyst Prof Datuk Dr Awang Azman Awang Pawi said the failure to pass the amendment reflects several structural and political weaknesses.
“First, it indicates insufficient majority support, particularly if the amendment requires a two-thirds majority.
“In the context of Malaysia’s coalition-based and multi-party politics, voting discipline and internal consensus are decisive factors,” he said.
He said this also reflects weaknesses in prior negotiations and consensus management, whether among parties within the government itself or with the opposition bloc.
He said sensitive Bills, especially those involving constitutional matters, religion, state powers or ethnic interests, require more comprehensive engagement.
It also signals power dynamics within Parliament, he added, including the potential for differences in stance among government MPs themselves.
“This is not merely a weakness, but also a reflection of checks and balances functioning as they should.
“The political perception, however, is that the failure to pass the amendment shows the government is not strong enough in managing its reform agenda,” he said.
“Opposition or neutral parties, he said, could not speak about institutional reform if they fail on the fundamental aspect of strengthening reform.
“They cannot blame the core of the Unity Government, which has demonstrated a commitment to institutional reform but was thwarted by the opposition or by certain government members who chose to abstain or be absent.”
