How Malaysia’s political coup failed

The king’s appointment of Mahathir as the interim prime minister to establish a new government is seen as the only option, as he is the most likely to have the numbers in parliament to do so. Before any final decision to swear him in as the legitimate prime minister heading a working administration, the king, with the nation's chief secretary as witness will personally interview each and every MP to ascertain who their loyalty lies with. Certainly, any new government will be in the image Mahathir wants.

Mahathir’s resignation as both prime minister and chairman of Bersatu over the botched attempt to realign the government has also ended the tenure of his administration’s ministers and cabinet. Whatever his role in the attempt to realign the government, Mahathir is now clear to appoint whomever he sees fit to serve in any future ministry he may form. The membership of this future ministry will be truly telling on the way Mahathir plans to take his future administration. Whether Anwar Ibrahim will be a member of the ministry will give an indication of Mahathir’s intentions.

There will be a few obstacles for Mahathir to form any coalition. UMNO refuses to serve in any arrangement with the DAP and the DAP most probably likewise. Sarawak’s GPS would object to working with both the DAP and PAS. Warisan would not have anything to do with Sabah chief minister Musa Aman in the government. PKR would work with UMNO, and Amanah would not work with PAS. PKR would not work with Azmin’s independent grouping.

So far, although Kedah, Melaka, Negeri Sembilan, and the Johor state governments have technically fallen with the withdrawal of Bersatu from Pakatan, they are holding together waiting up a final solution at federal level. The Bursa Malaysia, which plummeted yesterday, is on the rebound, with the markets seeing the actions taken by the Agong in seeking a solution are bringing sense and stability to the situation.

The Malaysian Bar and Attorney-General Tommy Thomas have both said that he who commands the confidence of the majority in the house should be determined in parliament itself. However, in the unprecedented move to personally interview every MP, the Agong has saved Malaysia’s politicians from the wrath and anger of voters. In the current angry environment, an election within a couple of weeks would have drastically changed the election landscape. This is probably a lost opportunity.