KUALA LUMPUR: Datuk Seri Fahmi Fadzil is confident that the Madani government Cabinet will remain professional and committed to preserving political stability and carrying out its responsibilities until the end of the administration's term.
The Communications Minister said political issues, including the recent conditional pardon granted to former Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, had not affected ties between parties in the coalition, particularly Pakatan Harapan and Barisan Nasional.
"Alhamdulillah, we can see the commitment from all component parties to ensure stability, regardless of what is said at assemblies and so on. This is important because investors will look at two main things, namely political stability and policies," he said as a guest on The Tiger Show podcast hosted by journalist Amin Iskandar Thursday (Sept 24).
Fahmi said the Madani government had achieved strong economic growth during its nearly four years in office.
"So I believe party leaders are willing to set aside any differences for the sake of the country," he said in response to a question on ties between the parties forming the Federal Government.
Fahmi, who is also Pakatan communications director, said the coalition viewed His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia's consent to grant Najib a conditional pardon as a policy decision made in accordance with the spirit of the Constitution and the country's laws.
"This is not something driven by revenge or personal feelings towards the person, the individual named Datuk Seri Najib. The Prime Minister (Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim) has also said many times in Parliament and outside Parliament that he has no motive for revenge. But this is the rule of law," he said.
On the possibility of Pakatan and Barisan working together again after the 16th General Election, Fahmi did not rule out such an arrangement if a hung Parliament situation recurred.
"It is possible, because my reading is that if ordered by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, to avoid instability, we need to set aside differences and form a government for the sake of stability, progress and the security of the country," he said.
Asked about the upcoming Melaka state election, Fahmi also did not rule out cooperation with Barisan, which previously held 21 of the 28 state seats, through a limited or conditional political understanding.
"That is one option. The second is to totally go solo," he said, adding that Malaysia's political dynamics now differed from one state to another.
"What happens in one state may not necessarily be suitable or happen in another state. What we may see in a series of state elections may not necessarily turn out as expected in the general election.
"For example, in the Melaka state election in early 2022, Pakatan suffered a heavy defeat, but in the general election we won three parliamentary seats, while Barisan and Perikatan Nasional had no parliamentary seats. So voters today are complicated and complex in their thinking," he said.
The Melaka state legislative assembly was dissolved on Sept 23, paving the way for the 16th state election. Barisan won 21 of the 28 seats in the previous state election, while Pakatan won five and Perikatan two. - Bernama
