IN 2024, the persistent era of multiple crises is anticipated, impacting the welfare of Malaysians and the nation due to global factors such as geopolitical conflicts, environmental issues, and technological advancements leading to job transformations caused by Artificial Intelligence.

Faced with these global challenges, Malaysians must recognise that they are not adversaries but fellow citizens.

The spirit of “kita jaga kita” demonstrated during the Covid-19 pandemic, where Malaysians selflessly aided one another irrespective of ethnicity, religion, or political allegiance, should serve as a reminder of our collective strength in times of crisis.

As the Malay proverb wisely states, “to win a shouting match only to lose the village” (menang sorak kampung tergadai), such victories are pyrrhic. It emphasises the importance of not losing sight of the broader goals and consequences.

If Malaysians fail to equip themselves to transform adversities into opportunities, everyone will suffer. The incoming government, regardless of its composition, will inherit a sluggish economy and a discontented population.

Though we may engage in competition, whether as individuals or diverse groups, our destinies remain intertwined. When confronted with pandemics, natural disasters, and economic uncertainties, no single community is immune.

In the face of such challenges, we either rise or fall collectively. This undeniable truth underscores the need for political reconciliation and democratic stability, fostering unity to confront the monumental global challenges before us.

We encourage all institutions, organisations, and individuals with a love for Malaysia to collaborate in upholding the following ideals, originally enshrined in the Federal Constitution and advocated by the Rukun Negara.

A constitutional monarchy, in which all rulers stay above politics and leave governance to elected leaders, such that the royal institutions would not be tainted by controversies or polemics and can unite all Malaysians or citizens of their respective states across socio-political differences.

Parliamentary democracy, in which the power of the executive is unequivocally derived from the confidence of the majority of parliamentarians (who are organised through political parties as aggregators of political aspirations and preferences), and scrutinised, checked and balanced by both Opposition parliamentarians and government backbenchers through select committees, plenary debates and parliamentary questions.

Federalism, in which powers are meaningfully dispersed between the federal, regional/state and local governments, to ensure the right balance between uniformity and autonomy, equity and competition for the regions and states, and that the local authorities are accountable and responsive to the residents.

The Rule of law, in which laws are enacted to protect basic human rights and advance the well-being of citizens and residents, not for public authorities to arbitrarily control and silence the population, and effectively applied to all including government leaders, without selective prosecution or impunity, to avoid the cynical notion that “one is innocent until one loses power, and one may regain innocence when one regains power”.

To these ends, we call upon the government and the opposition to negotiate a package of political reforms for the remaining term of the 15th parliament until December 18, 2027, which should include, a Fixed-Term Parliament Act and a confirmatory vote of confidence for every new prime minister after his/her appointment under Article 40(2)(a) of the Federal Constitution.

Parliamentary Services Act where more parliamentary select committees, non-governmental business time, recognition of shadow cabinet/executive council, law for equitable constituency development fund, a Political Financing Act which enables public funding of political parties, and an independent Election Commission answerable to parliament.

Separation of the functions of public prosecution from the Attorney-General’s Chambers, enhancing the independence of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission and the impartiality of the Police.

A “whole of Malaysia” conversation between the federal government, the regional governments of Sabah and Sarawak, and the 11 state governments in Peninsular Malaysia, to have a comprehensively and carefully planned decentralisation roadmap, with the Malaysia Agreement 1963 being the main pillar and central guiding document.

Instead of waiting for either side to reach out to the others, we call upon both the government and the Opposition to invite the president of the senate Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar and the speaker of the House of Representatives Johari Abdul to act as impartial mediators.

Malaysia belongs to all of us. We call upon all Malaysians, including actors in civil society and the private sector, to support this humble New Year call for stability and accountability.

This statement is issued by Project Stability and Accountability for Malaysia (Projek SAMA), the latest initiative advocating for institutional reforms within the broader context of political stability and accountability.

This aligns with our collective aspirations during a period when our nation is navigating the complexities of democratisation and the uncharted territory of hung parliaments and coalition governments. In Malaysia, we are bound by a shared destiny. Ngeow Chow Ying serves as its convenor. – December 30, 2023