Fixed-term Act serves self-interest politicians over public - Isham
SHAH ALAM - The proposal to create a Fixed Term Act by Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi is not a goal for the people.
Former Umno Supreme Council Member Isham Jalil said the matter was seen only for the self-interest of a few politicians in the government.
"I see it as self-interest, including Zahid himself who may be afraid that if the government changes, they will lose their power and position and may be charged in court again and go to jail in the near future.
"This bill will also prevent the freedom of the people's representatives in Parliament to change the prime minister and the government in the middle of the term if they fail to govern the country well or have lost the support of the people or the people's representatives in Parliament.
"This can also cause a situation where the prime minister and the government become complacent in carrying out their responsibilities towards the people and the country with efficiency and trust; this situation is not good for the people," he said in a post on Facebook on Monday.
He said the existence of the bill would also open up space for misuse of power such as engaging in corruption and not doing work by the prime minister and the government when they feel that their position would remain in power until the end of the term.
He added that the Malaysian Constitution allowed a change of prime minister and government in the middle of the term if the existing Prime Minister no longer has the support of the majority of members of the Dewan Rakyat at the discretion of His Majesty the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.
"The proposed bill not only curbs the voice of the people and the people's representatives in Parliament, but also curbs the power and discretion of His Majesty the Yang di-Pertuan Agong to change the prime minister who in His Majesty's opinion has lost the support of the people's representatives in the middle of the term.
"If the Prime Minister and the government fail to govern and cause the suffering of the people, it is harmful if the people and His Majesty the Yang di-Pertuan Agong have to wait until the end of the term to change them (the prime minister and the government)," he said.
In the meantime, Isham said if the people suffered due to the government's failure, they could not wait for five years.
"The balance of government by people and their representatives needs to be done continuously and not just every five years in the general election.
"That's why the provision in the Constitution has allowed the change of prime minister and government in the middle of the term.
"The bill enacted in Parliament needs to be made for the benefit of the people and not to save the necks of a few politicians in the government," he explained.
On Saturday, Zahid proposed a bill to keep a government running the country until the end of the term be tabled in Parliament.
He, who is also the Umno President, said it was to ensure that previous events such as changing the prime minister three times in the 14th Parliament term would not be repeated in the future.
