But now that GE15 is done and dusted, we are no better than before, if not worse.
Never in the history of Malaysian politics has there been so much uncertainty after a general election. Almost four days after the Nov 19 national polls and the stalemate persists over the candidacy of the Prime Minister.
Even after the 14th general election when Barisan Nasional was toppled for the first time in 61 years, the PM candidate was swiftly announced and sworn in.
The uncertainty over who the PM is has sent jitters to the business community. On Monday, the first day Bursa Malaysia re-opens after GE15, some RM7.32 billion was wiped off market capitalisation from the bourse. The anxiety from the business community is real.
If the impasse prolongs, we may witness further capital flight, which is unfortunate at a time when the country has only started getting back on its feet after being battered by the Covid-19 pandemic. It doesn’t help that the Government has projected a challenging 2023 due to an anticipated global economic slowdown owing to the prolonged war in Ukraine and disruption in the global supply chain.
As someone who has a humble portfolio in the Malaysian stock market and dabbles in small-time businesses, I am alarmed and worried. I hope to see a swift resolution soon.
This is why I implore all parties to set aside their self-interests and prioritise the national agenda. In this respect, let’s uphold the law and the Federal Constitution. Whichever party or coalition that meets the requirement to form the new Government should be allowed to do so.
If the coalition has the backing of more than 112 MPs, that’d be great. Otherwise, the leader who has the most support of MPs should be sworn in as soon as possible, even if this means forming a minority government. The law is the law, whether we like it or not.
I remember that one of the main reasons why we conducted the general election is because we want an end to the political uncertainties. But now that GE15 is done and dusted, we are no better than before, if not worse.
The political elites may not feel the hardship the business community or the general masses go through due to the political uncertainty. But on the ground, we are feeling the pain. So, let’s put aside our differences and uphold the Constitution and the law and get on with the appointment of the Prime Minister.
The views expressed here are strictly those of Wong Kye Jun from Setapak, Kuala Lumpur.