Unity govt largest coalition since independence, says Saifuddin

SHAH ALAM - Pakatan Harapan (PH) chief secretary Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail admits it is not easy to manage a large coalition especially one involving 19 political parties.

He said this was the first that a large coalition was formed and numerous predictions and several theories were brought up by political analysts on the coalitions.

However, he said the unity government has brought about a sense of political stability and that garnered acceptance from the people.

“From the nation’s political history, there has never been a coalition consisting of 19 registered parties forming a unity government," he said.

First prime minister Tunku Abdul Rahman initiated the gathering of three political parties that represented the largest ethnic groups for independence, he said.

“Tun Abdul Razak (second prime minister) then started BN by including Pas.

“It’s not simple. But what is clear is that the government, which is entering its sixth month, has succeeded in establishing political stability,” he said.

He said this during Awani Agenda programme titled ‘Unity Government National Convention, What Does It Want to Achieve?’ today that featured the unity government chief secretariat Datuk Dr Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki.

Saifuddin, the PKR secretary-general added Malaysians were tired of political ‘drama’.

“Now, they see the sincerity of the unity government after we started with a coalition of 19 political parties. The people also witnessed our efforts in working towards restoring the economy.

“Our emphasis on the good governance which differentiates this government from the previous ones,” he said.