ON February 29, 2020, the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, after getting representation based on statutory declarations (SDs) from all leaders representing their respective parties as well as Independent MPs, appointed Muhyiddin Yassin our prime minister.

On August 21 last year, he resigned when 11 MPs, who 17 months earlier signed SDs affirming their support for him, withdrew their support.

And using a similar method, the king, after meeting and obtaining SDs from leaders and MPs, appointed Ismail Sabri Yaakob to replace Muhyiddin.

On October 11 this year, Ismail said he had no choice but to dissolve parliament because 12 MPs, who also on August 20 last year affirmed in SDs confirming their support for him to be the prime minister, had behaved inappropriately by writing to the king in opposition to a snap election.

Ismail said the people’s mandate is a powerful antidote for the country to manifest political stability and create a strong, stable and respected government, which was why he was calling the general election.

The last two prime ministers that the country had, was appointed via SDs given by the MPs supporting their choice to the king, who then agreed and consented to the confirmation expressed by these MPs.

One was forced to resign while the other had to dissolve parliament and call a general election because in both cases, some MPs who earlier have confirmed their support to the prime minister via SDs subsequently withdrew their support, nixing their earlier confirmation.

The newly elected representatives are now repeating the same process, that is, affirming their support for Muhyiddin to be the prime minister via SDs to be given to the king.

The same political parties grouped together to affirm support for one of their own to be the prime minister and it was the same group who caused the fall of their affirmed choice months later.

And now these parties, which separately did not obtained the majority number of MPs, are coming back together and telling the public and the king that these political parties, which failed in governing this country for the last 30 months, can and will provide the stability needed for the country.

The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result.

Do these politicians think and believe that they will achieve a different set of results the third time around?

Or do they sincerely believe in the maxim, one is sure to succeed at a task or event on the third try? – November 22, 2022.

* FLK 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.