“I AM A brother of Malays, Chinese, Indians, Sikhs, Ibans, Kadazans, Dusun, Murut and various ethnic groups, “said the new Malaysian Prime Minister in his first television address on March 2. Muhyiddin Yassin’s conciliatory words played well in a country torn apart by the turbulence of his largely racist parties. The previous government, a coalition called Pakatan Harapan, collapsed on February 24 after one of its components split in two and another, Bersatu, completely separated. After a week of confusion, a new ruling coalition has emerged: Perikatan Nasional (“national alliance”), led by Mr. Muhyiddin. He was sworn in on March 1.
Perikatan Nasional contains very familiar faces. Its main component is the United Malaysian National Organization (UM NO), who ruled Malaysia for 61 years, but took a 21-month sabbatical after Pakatan Harapan removed him from office in 2018. Other members include NOT, an Islamic outfit, and almost all of Bersatu. He is on good terms with the parties of the state of Sarawak, in the Malaysian part of Borneo, whose support is necessary to give Perikatan Nasional a majority in the lower house of Parliament.
Although each party has its own platform, promoting Malaysian interests is a common goal. Bumiputras– Malays and other indigenous groups, who represent 69% of the country’s population of 32 million, have special privileges enshrined in the constitution. Pakatan Harapan spoke of the need for a more meritocratic system, although he did little to introduce one. This attracted the 24% Malaysian Chinese and 7% Indian, as well as liberal Malaysians, but most bumiputras were alarmed.
Mr. Muhyiddin presents himself as a unifier. It will have to start with Parliament. He got the king’s sign to form a government only on the basis that he was “likely” to be able to command a majority. His decision of March 4 to postpone the next sitting of Parliament to May will save him time to woo hesitant or bidding parties and MPs. Although he has many jobs at his disposal, starting with cabinet seats, he also has many jockeying factions to appease. An attempt at racial diversity would strengthen the confidence of minorities in government.
Keeping Perikatan Nasional together will be a challenge for Mr. Muhyiddin. UM NO brings a lot of luggage. Its president, Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, is among the candidates for the post of Deputy Prime Minister. But he is on trial for allegedly misappropriating funds for a charity. Breast support UM NO for Najib Razak, the Prime Minister from 2009 to 2018, remains solid. But Mr. Najib faces multiple trials for charges related to 1MDB, a public investment company of which $ 4.5 billion has disappeared from its watch. Najib denies any wrongdoing and recently said that under the new government he “would expect the atmosphere to be more conducive to a fair trial”. Yet any indication that prosecutors are making fun of Mr. Najib, who remains a UM NO MP, would probably go as wrong with voters as 1MDB scandal did in the first place.
It is only one element of the dreaded basket that awaits new ministers each time they are appointed. There is also covid-19, the number of which is increasing in Malaysia. The epidemic, in turn, is likely to hurt the economy. In the last quarter of 2019, it grew at its slowest pace in a decade; the current quarter should be even worse. Prime Minister’s advisers call for action to help the poorest 40% of citizens, the vast majority of whom are bumiputras. Reducing the cost of living “is essential,” said Rais Hussin, chief strategist at Bersatu. The recent political drama has exacerbated the situation, he notes, as it has weakened the ringgit, which will increase the cost of imported meat, dairy and other foods. Another concern is unemployment among young people. The overall unemployment rate is around 3%, but among 15-24 year olds it exceeds 10%. Many of those who are employed are overqualified for the positions they hold.
Perikatan Nasional has been around for less than two weeks. He has no manifesto. While its constituent parties have agreed on policies to solve the country’s problems, they have not made them public. Then there is the question of how to manage each party’s favorite projects in government. For years NOT, for example, pushed for the adoption of an Islamic penal code, including harsh sanctions such as amputations and stoning. Under Mr. Najib, UM NO toyed with such ideas too. Sarawak parties, on the other hand, are likely to demand lavish spending in their state, even if the struggling economy makes a profit. “It will not be a bed of roses,” admits a government adviser. ■
This article appeared in the Asia section of the print edition under the title “Beset at its birth”