Don’t fight over the post of PM; fight for a PM who can only exercise power within the confines of the constitution.
It is disheartening to note that the opposition parties are now fighting who among their respective leaders would become the prime minister (PM) should they win the coming general election.
Rightly or wrongly, the position of the PM has become the most important “institution” in the country today. Years of power consolidation and concentration has made this position very invincible and powerful. Hence, the endless tussle for it, even though winning the election is by no means certain yet.
I think it is time for the opposition coalition to look at the position of the PM differently.
Right now the PM is all powerful because all the “actors” as provided for in our constitution have not played their rightful role.
Instead of fighting for the post, the opposition coalition should be looking at the powers and jurisdiction of the PM within the confines of the constitution.
In other words, they shouldn’t be just looking at the powers of the PM as they exist today. They should “reconstruct” the PM the way they want the person to be. Please let me elaborate.
First, the opposition coalition must look at other important positions as provided for in the constitution other than that of the PM.
Second, they should share these important positions fairly among the coalition partners to ensure checks and balance.
If important positions are fairly distributed among coalition partners, it will automatically circumscribe the powers of the PM.
The idea is really to prevent abuse or the arbitrary exercise of power.
To begin with, all MPs from each coalition partner must play their respective roles jealously and dutifully. The executive branch headed by the PM has become too powerful because the legislature has more or less abdicated its power. An assertive legislature would send different signals to the executive branch.
Similarly, we can look at other important positions to ensure check and balance. For example, if the PM is from PPBM, the finance and home affairs ministers should be from other coalition partners. The same goes for the speaker of the Dewan Rakyat.
I believe it is easier to agree on the post of PM if the coalition partners first work out other important positions in the government. The overarching principle is to ensure power sharing and fair play.
Don’t fight over the post of PM; fight for a PM who can only exercise power within the confines of the constitution.