Getting ready: A worker making the final preparations for the Unity Government National Convention at Dewan Merdeka in World Trade Centre Kuala Lumpur. — AZMAN GHANI/The Star
PETALING JAYA: The huge convention between various parties and factions within the unity government – six months since its formation – is expected to cement ties at all levels of party memberships, way beyond typical working relationships at the government level.
“This convention will be the hallmark for stronger commitment for all parties to strengthen cooperation, understanding and working relationship at all levels, not merely to face the six upcoming state elections, but more importantly, to steer the direction of the new Malaysia based on the concept of Madani,” the unity government secretariat’s chief Datuk Dr Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki told The Star.
The convention today will see a gathering of 19 parties or four major coalitions under the unity government umbrella – namely Barisan Nasional, Pakatan Harapan, GPS and GRS.
He said one of the salient features of this government was that it really reflected the real face of Malaysia, representing different races and religions encompassing not only the peninsula, but also Sabah and Sarawak.
“This convention will signify the importance of mutual respect, inclusiveness and highest level of tolerance, which are the entrenched values of this new collaboration,” he added.
Besides that, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof and secretary-general of the unity government secretariat said working ties between members of the unity government was strong, as evident through the government’s commitment to deliver the best for the nation.
Fadillah, who is from GPS, said the convention also would also provide all partners the chance to understand each other.
“This convention is a chance for all partners to understand each other, in particular GPS, and how GPS can contribute to the nation and Sarawak,” he said, adding that GPS hoped the convention would strengthen ties between Sarawak and the Federal Government to ensure the fulfilment of MA63.
Universiti Sains Malaysia senior lecturer Dr Azmil Mohd Tayeb said it was a good time for these parties to work together to form a stable government.
“People in general crave a stable government and so do foreign investors, especially when the economy is not doing great,” he said.
Political pundit Dr Tunku Mohar Tunku Mohd Mokhtar of the International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM) said the convention was a positive development, and parties in the unity government had seen the importance of strengthening cooperation.
“It is indeed a platform to find common ground and assure the grassroots on the viability of this cooperation, at least until the next general election. It can also boost morale for the upcoming state elections.
“The convention can also allay fear of any sabotage from within the unity government.
“It can undermine efforts by the opposition parties to break up the unity government parties,” he said of the recent rumours of plots to oust the government.
He noted that the political landscape had also changed, as seen in the past two general elections where there was no longer a dominant party in the country.
“The way forward is a coalition of parties with diverse interests. In this new reality, the parties should learn to start cooperating for the interest of the nation,” he said.
Universiti Teknologi Mara School of Media and Information Warfare Studies’ security and political analyst Dr Noor Nirwandy Mat Noordin said ways to retain public trust could be discussed during the convention.
“This includes looking into how the manifestos, promises and policies using the Madani approach will be upheld by the unity government,” he said.
