AFTER months of drama, Pakatan Harapan has finally – and yet again – endorsed Anwar Ibrahim as its choice of prime minister.

The presidential council has mandated him to continue talks with all components and allies – including Parti Warisan Sabah, whose president, Mohd Shafie Apdal, previously had the backing of Amanah and DAP for the top job – aimed at ousting Perikatan Nasional.

It is unclear what advantage the PH support renders that will allow Anwar to do what he had been unable to in late February or after the first few rounds of negotiations among the “Pakatan Plus” parties, and if the said advantage is sufficient for him to obtain the numbers needed to set the pact firmly on the path to Putrajaya once more. If he manages to pull it off, there’s the poser of whether the PN administration will call snap polls and what position the palace will take.

In PN, there seems to be a lack of consensus on the extent of the cooperation between its components, with a handful of senior Umno leaders openly questioning the declaration that it will enter the 15th general election as a coalition and have Muhyiddin Yassin continue as prime minister should it win.

Barisan Nasional is a “fixed” coalition, while the dust has more or less settled on Muafakat Nasional, the alliance between BN lynchpin Umno and PAS, two Malay-Muslim parties that have the bulk of the peninsula vote. Though PAS and Umno’s ideologies gel well enough, having the multiracial BN sit at the same table as the Islamist outfit, which also heads the informal Gagasan Sejahtera grouping, is no cakewalk.

Another issue for this pact is the virtual absence of Borneo representation, save for the negligible presence of small parties from Sabah and Sarawak. The ruling Gabungan Parti Sarawak, which comprises former BN members, appears comfortable in its role as PN’s kingmaker, while Warisan, largely made up of those who quit BN and PKR, has chosen to be part of Pakatan Plus.

Then you have Bersatu, the country’s youngest party that has the unique claim of being the final piece of the puzzle for both sides grappling over power. Whichever coalition wins, Bersatu is the one to emerge victorious.

Some parties have demanded that elections be called, and this really does seem to be the only clear way to break the impasse, what more with Budget 2021 due to be tabled in November.

As entertaining as this episode has been, it’s high time for the government and opposition to come up with a viable offer that takes into account the racial, religious and socioeconomic needs of all groups and states. It’s pointless to keep up the emotive rhetoric, which only burns bridges for expedient but ultimately hollow political gain, and makes it difficult to rebuild a positive narrative.

With the numbers game on hold at the moment, leaders from the rival camps should use this opportunity to learn from one another, build stronger and more inclusive teams, and formulate proposals that will benefit Malaysia in the long term instead of focusing only on what’s in it for them in the next term.

Politics should serve the country, not the other way around. – July 8, 2020.

* Emmanuel Joseph firmly believes that Klang is the best place on Earth, and that motivated people can do far more good than any leader with motive.

* This is the opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insight. Article may be edited for brevity and clarity.