POLITICAL reconciliation in Malaysia will be complicated, if not impossible, given how partisan it has become, said an academic. 

“It is so antagonistic that political parties are sometimes opposing for the sake of opposing. 

“Hence, real reconciliation could prove to be very difficult. The only leeway any side will give the other is to help pass Budget 2021, as the country battles to contain the Covid-19 pandemic,” said International Islamic University of Malaysia political science lecturer Dr Lau Zhe Wei. 

Lau was commenting on Umno’s proposal for a national reconciliation that included the opposition. At the same time, the party said it would reject cooperating with PKR and DAP. 

He said while some form of cooperation is possible, a full-on reconciliation that could result in a unity government is “quite far off”. 

“I can see Umno and DAP voting against Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin during a confidence motion. But this is unlikely to turn into a cooperation where both are in the same government,” said Lau. 

“Even if both parties were acting independently, DAP would have to answer to some of its members for ‘working’ with Umno. The same goes for Umno,” said Lau. 

Lau said the best scenario is for them to support Budget 2021, following the advice of Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah. 

On Wednesday, Istana Negara issued a statement calling on all MPs to set aside their differences to back Budget 2021. Muhyiddin currently only has the support of 113 MPs, a razor-thin majority in the 222-seat Dewan Rakyat. 

Dr Firdausi Suffian from Universiti Teknologi Mara Sabah said Umno and Bersatu must put aside their grouses to ensure the budget is passed. 

Firdausi said although the king rejected the prime minister’s emergency proposal, he has also clearly called on political parties to work together against the backdrop of the pandemic. 

“After the Agong’s statement, Umno and Bersatu should start the reconciliation process. The last thing people want is a change of government or prime minister, or even snap elections.

“So, the ‘new deal’ should focus on solving the crisis, a comprehensive budget for recovery from the crisis, and an exit plan post-Covid-19. 

“The Perikatan Nasional government should also form a committee of various political parties, including the opposition, to oversee our economic and health issues.” – October 30, 2020.