PETALING JAYA: As Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim tightens his grip on the unity government, the Bersatu leadership may face a crisis with possibly more of its MPs pledging their support for the Prime Minister, say analysts.
Their comments come as Anwar widened his parliamentary majority to a comfortable 151 after four Opposition MPs from Bersatu broke ranks with their party to back him.
Assoc Prof Dr Awang Azman Awang Pawi of Universiti Malaya said the latest development shows that Bersatu is on shaky ground.
“From the MPs who have stated their support for the Prime Minister, it shows their confidence in his leadership.
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“It also gives a boost to the unity government, which will be celebrating its first anniversary soon.
“At the same time, it is a direct blow to Bersatu’s leadership.
“Perhaps, these MPs wish for a new and better shift in leadership,” he said when contacted yesterday.
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Awang Azman also predicted that more Bersatu MPs might follow suit in supporting Anwar but did not expect the same from PAS MPs, who are subject to their bai’ah (oath of loyalty) to the party, which limits their political movements.
“I think it’s time for Bersatu to consider an agreement to support the government.
“By not doing so, it will be a loss for the rakyat and the party as not all MPs have the means to spend out of pocket on their constituencies,” he said.
Another political analyst, Assoc Prof Dr Mazlan Ali of Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, described it as a “Bersatu crisis” after the move by Jeli MP Zahari Kechik, the fourth Bersatu lawmaker to back Anwar as of yesterday.
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Mazlan said with Anwar now enjoying the support of 151 MPs, or over two-thirds of the majority in the Dewan Rakyat, the government would not face any issues in passing Bills.
Conversely, this has weakened the leadership position of Bersatu, which is seen as unable to stop or control its MPs from supporting the Prime Minister and the unity government, he added.
“This could also encourage more Bersatu MPs to support Anwar,” he said.
Mazlan said the four Bersatu MPs could have done so out of lack of respect for the party leadership or constituency allocations for the Opposition.
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He said they could also be disappointed that Perikatan Nasional, of which Bersatu is a member, did not respond to Anwar’s suggestions for the Opposition to negotiate with Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof regarding constituency allocations.
National Professors Council senior fellow Datuk Dr Jeniri Amir said Bersatu is now in a Catch-22 situation due to a loophole in the anti-party hopping law.
MPs and state assemblymen will lose their seats if they switch parties, but the MPs are supporting Anwar without quitting their party.
“So the anti-party hopping law does not apply to them as they have not gone against the law, and Bersatu also has no choice but to keep them or they will lose the parliamentary seats.
“They cannot be fired but, of course, these MPs will be put under some pressure by the party.
“It’s a Catch-22 situation for Bersatu,” he said.
Jeniri also said it does not bode well for the future of Bersatu if it fails to stop more MPs from similarly breaking ranks with the party.
“Having more Bersatu MPs supporting the Prime Minister will send a clear message to the rakyat that he has support and it will also strengthen backing for the unity government.
“But the implication for Perikatan is that it shows a lack of confidence in the coalition under the leadership of Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin,” he added.
Prof Dr Sivamurugan Pandian of Universiti Sains Malaysia said the increased support for Anwar beyond the two-thirds majority gives him the moral and political legitimacy to continue to lead the nation.
He noted that it was not unusual for Opposition MPs to break with their parties and go for a more stabilised relationship with the government in order to secure benefits for their constituencies.
“It’s not new because many defected back in 2018 for the same reason,” he said.
