Stability of Federal Government Depends on Coalition Cohesiveness – Analyst

KUALA LUMPUR: The strength and survival of the Federal Government today cannot be assessed solely based on the popularity of a single leader, but rather must be viewed through the cohesiveness of the coalition leading the country’s administration.

Political analyst, Datuk Prof Dr Sivamurugan Pandian, said long-term stability requires a firm consensus among all component parties to ensure the continuity of policies and unity in administration can be maintained.

Touching on UMNO’s leadership narrative regarding the possibility of the 16th General Election (GE16) being held early, he explained that the matter should be seen as a political signal to gauge the party machinery’s preparedness, rather than a determination of the official date for Parliament’s dissolution.

“The question is not simply early or late, but whether the current political mandate needs to be renewed before the term ends to strengthen administrative stability? Perhaps that is what will be further examined at the upcoming UMNO General Assembly,” he said in an interview with Astro AWANI recently.

However, Sivamurugan stressed that the decision regarding the dissolution of Parliament remains the prerogative power of the Prime Minister to advise the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, guided by comprehensive strategic considerations in the national interest.

According to him, the Prime Minister will examine various key factors including economic developments, current policy performance, public sentiment, and the preparedness of political parties before making any decision.

“Timing is crucial in determining the election date. When it is said to be early, it does not mean tomorrow or the day after, but perhaps within a period of six to eight months so that all parties can prepare in an orderly manner,” he explained.

Commenting on the basis of political parties’ confidence relying on successes in several past State Elections (PRN), he cautioned that such achievements should be assessed realistically because the voting landscape at the federal level has different dynamics.

He added that the main challenge at present is maintaining the government’s focus on service delivery to the people, while building a solid understanding in facing the ever-dynamic political arena.

Astro Awani