THE 15th general election saw the implosion of Umno and the humiliating rejection of its long-time former leader, Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

While my third prediction (outright victory for the Anwar Ibrahim-led Pakatan Harapan) did not happen, nonetheless it had won the highest number of parliamentary seats, at 82. As such, the king should give Anwar the first crack at forming the new government.

The people have expressed their collective decision. It is now for the king to make the call, as constitutionally mandated, to choose from among the leaders of the various contending parties the one who would or could command the confidence of the new parliament. It is a judgment call reserved only unto him.

It would then be up to parliament to accept the king’s decision or contest it through an open debate following a formal vote of no-confidence on Anwar.

The scenario with the previous parliament where individual MPs were summoned to the palace with their statutory declarations in hand would not do it. It did not work then and it will not now.

There is no constitutional provision for this extra “voting”.

A decision taken following open debate is fluid and dynamic, the outcome often unpredictable right up to the last minute. Not so with backroom deals.

Following Saturday’s polls, the comptroller of the royal household issued this statement: “The parties and coalitions will be asked to give a name of one MP who has the confidence of the majority of MPs in the Dewan Rakyat to be the prime minister by 2pm on Monday, November 21, 2022.”

Syntax aside, that is misguided. It is for the king, and not anyone else, to make that call, with the House then having the prerogative to affirm or deny his choice.

Let’s not repeat the scenario of the last parliament and the consequent political debacles.

The instruction given to Azhar Harun is misplaced as he is no longer the speaker. His Dewan Rakyat had long been dissolved.

It would be the new parliament’s prerogative, after it has been properly constituted with all its members sworn in and a new speaker elected, whether Anwar could continue.

Let Anwar use his political skills to craft the necessary coalition to secure parliament’s confidence. – November 21, 2022.

* 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.