SHAH ALAM – The politicians’ willingness to share power is a big question when forming a unity government.
Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) Political Analyst Professor Dr Kartini Aboo Talib @ Khalid said the power-sharing method should be considered when appointing a cabinet for a unity government without opposition.
"If the term unity means that everything is equal and together, it means that there is no opposition because no one can admit that there is a clear majority.
"So how to appoint a cabinet if there is no opposition?
"Perhaps it is possible to think about how to (use) a quota system, a system that has elements of segmental autonomy in accordance with skills and experience through the method of political agreement.
"The question is are they willing to share power? Many assume that many politicians are rational, especially once in the formation of a unity government.
But the gap in ideology, approach and strategy depends very much on how these cabinet members and ministers can sit at the same table and work together," she said when she was a panellist on the Sinar Live program titled 'Akhirnya Anwar PM Kerajaan Perpaduan' which was broadcasted on Sinar Harian's digital platform on Thursday.
The program conducted by Fahiz Ariff also featured the Bumiputera Education Leaders Foundation (Peneraju Foundation) Chief Executive Officer Dr Mohd Muzzammil Ismail; Darul Ehsan Institute Senior Manager (Research) Khairul Ariffin Mohd Munir and former Kuantan MP Fuziah Salleh as panellists.
Commenting further, Kartini said that most of the party's current leaders were born in Umno school, making many people assume that there would be no problem for them to work together.
"If we take a positive spirit and assume that they can work together, the most appropriate distribution of the cabinet is the distribution of quota according to the skills and experience that we can see in all the figures of the unity government," he said.
In the meantime, Muzzammil said that the cabinet of the unity government should consist of leaders close to the people's issues.
"We know there is inflation, the overnight policy rate (OPR) also rises several times throughout the year. So, this is what the new government needs to provide through the line of the cabinet to be formed.
"Look for technocrats, leaders from those who are very close to the issues of the people such as the supply of eggs issue for example. This is the leaders who need to be appointed," he said
Meanwhile, Fuziah said the appointment of Pakatan Harapan Chairman Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, as Prime Minister was seen as hope for the country.
"Anwar used to be a representative for PH, now he is a hope for the people.
"He is the right individual to shoulder the responsibility of facing the problem," she said.
Fuziah said that all coalitions under the unity government needed to reach an understanding to resolve all the problems the country faced.
Khairul Ariffin said that the results of the 15th General Election (GE15) saw the people's desire to get involved in the democratic stage was high.
"The matter has been seen to happen since 2018, so I believe the people are aware of it," he said.