People power outside polls a fallacy, says UMNO minister

KUALA LUMPUR — People power outside of a general election is a fallacy, said an UMNO minister, in supporting his boss, Prime Minister Najib Razak who last night (Sept 4) insisted that the power of the people to choose the government can only be applied during polls.

Writing in his blog, Communications and Multimedia Minister Salleh Said Keruak said only the prime minister can decide when to call for an election and any other action contrary to that is a “coup”.

“Whether the present government stays till mid-2018 or ends today is, therefore, entirely up to Prime Minister Najib Razak.

“The fallacy being created is that ‘people’s power’ will decide. People’s power can decide who gets to form government through the ballot box. But people’s power does not decide when the government retires,” he said.

As Malaysia practises the Westminster system of government, the Sabah Barisan Nasional deputy chief said it is the prerogative of the prime minister as to when to call for fresh elections.

If the prime minister does not dissolve Parliament to make way for fresh elections, then Parliament automatically dissolves five years from the start of Parliament and elections must be held within two months.

Mr Najib said last night it was not about the government not wanting to be judged by the people but the constitution stated that such power only comes once in five years.

“Elections are the time when we leave it to the people to choose the government. Judge us, prosecute us as the government of the day whether it is good or not, the people can determine it.

“In between elections, we cannot do anything that contravenes our country’s constitution and laws,” he was quoted as saying by national news agency Bernama.

Mr Najib’s supporter turned critics, former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad, had dropped by twice during the two-day Bersih rally last weekend, saying that he did not support the group’s demands but only wanted to see Mr Najib resign.

“The only way to return rule of law is to remove this prime minister, and to remove him the people must show people’s power,” he had said.

This prompted Inspector-General of Police Khalid Abu Bakar to say on Wednesday that police will summoned the statesman over his remarks. THE MALAYSIAN INSIDER