THE Agong’s rebuff to Muhyiddin Yassin’s request for a declaration of a state of emergency is but an expression of his lack of confidence in the prime minister’s leadership. If Muhyiddin has any sense of responsibility, he would resign. But in his more than 40 years in politics, Muhyiddin has never shown a sense of public accountability. Don’t expect him to show it now.
 
It is parliament’s turn to drive home the Agong’s message (shared by the people) by rejecting Muhyiddin via the upcoming budget bill, if not a formal “no-confidence” vote, thus forcing him to resign. The Agong would then be free to select a leader who in his opinion commanded the confidence of the house. Meaning, he would have to accept Anwar’s October 13 presentation and appoint him prime minister. If protecting people from Covid-19 infection is the Agong’s top priority, as he has indicated, calling for a general election now would be an unwise option.

Let’s be clear. The Agong’s rejection of the advice of an elected prime minister is no small thing and it could set a dangerous precedent. Muhyiddin, however, is far from being an elected leader. He is but an illegitimate “backdoor” prime minister; parliament never ratified his leadership.

Should Muhyiddin succeed in winning support in parliament, such as by bribing every Umno MP with a cabinet position or GLC directorship, he would win his battle but the nation would lose the war. It would forever be established that the king may dispense with his prime minister’s advice. There would be no turning back once that bridge is crossed. This should weigh heavily on those inclined to vote for Muhyiddin.

Muhyiddin should take no comfort in the Agong’s pro forma expression of confidence buried at the end of the Council of Rulers’ statement. It is to be noted that Muhyiddin’s name was not mentioned, only the office.

The message from the Agong and the Council of Rulers was not even subtle. As a distracting aside, but one that was unmissible, was that the four governors did not have a part in the decision. Ever wondered why the secessionist movement in East Malaysia is gaining traction or that citizens in Penang and Malacca feel left out?

Muhyiddin never indicated or even hinted on why he would need the sweeping powers of the Emergency Ordinance to fight Covid-19. If he did, then the Agong, like the rest of Malaysia, was not impressed.

The most egregious violators of public health measures for Covid-19 are Muhyiddin’s ministers and party officials. Emergency rule would not change his ability to deal with that.

The obvious but unacknowledged fact is that Muhyiddin is an ineffectual leader; he cannot not lead even his ministers. He only knows how to buy their loyalty through bribery, with public money. His cabinet is bloated for a reason.

Being weak is bad enough but Muhyiddin is also incompetent. He is not even Parkinson’s Law personified (being promoted beyond one’s competence). Muhyiddin has been incompetent all along.

Muhyiddin faces two choices:  Resign with grace, or face the prospect of an ugly and highly divisive “no-confidence” vote in parliament and then be hauled out. No Malaysian prime minister, save perhaps the first, has ever left office with dignity.

Dr Mahathir Mohamad deluded himself in thinking he was indispensable. He thought he had performed a class act back in February 2020 by resigning. He had expected an outpouring of support, a reprise of his June 2001 decision. Instead he plunged Malaysia into her present unneeded, distracting, and divisive crisis. Welcome to his Vision 2020!

His predecessor Najib tried to escape to Indonesia in a private jet on the May 9 night of his election mauling. Vigilant citizens mobilised through social media thwarted his “planned vacation”.

Before him was sleepyhead Abdullah Badawi; he woke up and found himself out of office. Before him was Dr Mahathir, version 2001, with his staged melodrama that succeeded in delaying his departure for two years.

We know what happened to Hussein Onn (ill health) and Abdul Razak Hussein (death).

Only the first prime minister exited with a modicum of grace. As Abdul Rahman wrote in his memoir, had he known his deputy, Razak was desperate for the job, he would have resigned sooner. There was no need for Razak’s behind-the-back scheming that triggered the May 1969 riots. That was the first and only time parliament was suspended and emergency rule instituted by decree.

History suggests that Muhyiddin would have to be chased out. On the other hand, as Muslims believe, everything is in Allah’s hands. We propose; He disposes. Malaysia might get divine intervention. – October 26, 2020.

* M. Bakri Musa reads The Malaysian Insight.

* 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.