Twentytwo13

What happens if a prime minister-designate loses but his coalition wins GE15?

If a prime minister-designate fails to get elected to parliament, his party must still fulfil its election manifesto and find a credible replacement candidate to lead the country.

However, do Pakatan Harapan (PH) and Perikatan Nasional (PN) have suitable replacements if their respective leaders, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, fail to win?

That question was put to political analyst Professor Dr Azeem Fazwan Ahmad Farouk, with Malaysia’s 15th General Election scheduled on Nov 19.

Azeem, who is director of Universiti Sains Malaysia’s Centre for Policy Research and International Studies, said the problem plaguing PH and PN is that they do not have suitable candidates if Anwar or Muhyiddin loses.

Anwar is contesting in Tambun while Muhyiddin is standing in Pagoh.

“If Anwar loses, who in Pakatan can lead? Is it Anwar’s daughter (Nurul Izzah), or his wife, Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail?

“Would they be accepted? What about Rafizi Ramli, who has only just returned as deputy president of PKR?”

He said, similarly, apart from Muhyiddin, Perikatan does not have anyone, apart from Datuk Seri Azmin Ali.

As for Barisan Nasional (BN), Azeem said there is no shortage of candidates lining up to replace its prime minister candidate, Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob who is contesting in Bera.

He added Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan is a likely nominee, ahead of beleaguered president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

Azeem said GE15 would be Malaysia’s closest election with a surprise outcome, as no single coalition will get the 112 seats needed to form a government.

He added that in Malaysia, many tend to vote for a coalition, hoping that its leader would be the prime minister.

“Unlike the United States, Indonesia, or the Philippines, we do not elect the prime minister. It is the MPs who decide,” said Azeem.

“Previously, the Umno president would ‘automatically’ become prime minister, as the party and its coalition partners would have more than the minimum 112 seats to form a government.

“However, times have changed. Ismail Sabri is not Umno president, yet he was the prime minister (for 14 months).

“As such, there is no guarantee a leader or PM-designate will eventually become the prime minister, as he or she must be accepted by at least 112 MPs.”