Let’s give this unity government a good try

IT’S a relief to finally have a prime minister.

After almost a week of political gridlock, it took the royal institution to break the impasse and bring an end to one of the country’s most divisive general elections.

Given the tone of the campaigning leading up to voting day, and indeed the tone of political discourse in the past three years, all the experts predicted a hung Parliament, so nobody was really surprised when two coalitions claimed to hold enough of a majority to form the government on Nov 19.

Déjà vu, anyone? Remember the Sheraton Move, party hopping, the numbers game with ever-changing statutory declarations, all of which led to three changes of governments in as many years?

We hoped the 15th General Election would put a stop to the revolving door at Putrajaya and bring much needed stability to the country.

And it has done that. We hope. We say “hope” because the new government is a fragile thing that is something entirely new to Malaysia: a unity government.

A unity government is one in which rival political parties form a bloc that governs together.

It sounds complicated, and it is, but it has proven to work in many parts of the world, with South Africa being, arguably, the most famous example; there are also unity governments in Italy, Greece, Lebanon, Palestine, Israel, Zimbabwe, Kenya and more.

Many say a unity government is actually a sign that an electorate is maturing and really grasping democratic processes and power-sharing.

That we came to it without any violence is also a positive thing, and for that we have the King and Malay Rulers to thank.

While their suggestion to form this type of government was rejected by Perikatan Nasional chairman Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim managed to get the backing of other political parties, mainly Barisan Nasional and GPS (Gabungan Parti Sarawak), to forge the government.

When Muhyiddin challenged Anwar’s numbers, the new PM responded by saying that Parliament will call for a confirmatory vote of confidence when it convenes on Dec 19.

Political reformists have been calling for this parliamentary convention for years, as the process confirms the legitimacy of a new government and lends stability. And stability is something Malaysia sorely needs.

The political uncertainties of the last few years have hurt our economy and made investors jittery.

That stability helps was proven when, less than a day after the palace made the announcement about Anwar, the Malaysian stock exchange and ringgit both rebounded.

We don’t need any other numbers to come into play on Dec 19 when the confidence vote is called, no more statutory declarations and horse-trading.

Even if they can’t put aside ideological differences completely, politicians must learn the art of compromise to give the unity government a chance to prove itself and face economic challenges on a sure footing.

Next year is set to be a tough one, with growth slowing significantly globally and regionally. Malaysia’s GDP has been forecast to grow only 4% to 5% next year after posting a growth rate of 6.5% to 7% this year.

So Malaysians, citizens, politicians and all, must come together now to ensure a stable government to restore the economic landscape and national development.