KUALA LUMPUR: Pakatan Harapan (PH) and Barisan Nasional (BN) may have come to an agreement on a governing formula that promises to restore stability and unity in the country.
In what could be a win-win formula for a new unity government that both coalitions are considering, it is understood that they are keeping the doors open for other parties, particularly from Sabah and Sarawak, to join them.
Sources said the approach to this concept to be upheld by the new "Kerajaan Perpaduan Malaysia", was to promote a well-represented unity government that would last for the next five years.
The New Straits Times sighted a 10-point agreement proposed by PH to BN, which among others said:
- All necessary measures to ensure policies, programmes and the government direction upholds the provisions of the constitution on matters relating to the position of Islam, Malays/Bumiputera and the Malay rulers so as to preserve the sensitivities and sanctity of Islam, Malays and Bumiputeras, and the monarchy.
- Parliament will not dissolve before it completes its five-year term.
- The prime minister (PM) will be a member of parliament (MP) from PH and the deputy prime minister's (DPM) post, will be led by BN leaders.
- The Perak and Pahang state governments will be led by BN leader.
- The distribution of cabinet posts among the partners will be based on their percentage in Dewan Rakyat.
- The appointment of any BN MPs to the Cabinet must be approved by its supreme council first.
- The appointment of Dewan Negara members, main posts in government-linked companies and other government posts must first be notified and discussed between the PM and DPM.
- All senior cabinet posts - Finance, Home, Rural and Regional Development, Education and Defence will be decided on by the PM and the DPM, and the distribution will be equitable and commensurating their capabilities and expertise.
- The government composition will include representatives from each party with senior positions given once talks are concluded.
The sources said the new coalition that was being firmed up was optimistic that the Borneo bloc would come in to lend its strength to Putrajaya, in rebuilding the nation.
Separate sources meanwhile, said BN had made a collective stand to the palace that the coalition was in support of a unity government and it is understood that this was the message conveyed to the palace during its chairman Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi's audience with the king earlier today.
The king earlier today also met leaders of the Borneo bloc to hear for himself if they stood with PH or PN.
Yesterday, Warisan, led by Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal said the party was giving its backing to PH and BN, since the majority of Malaysians had voted for them.
"This support is also on the premise that the new federal government will resolve in full the 21 claims under the Malaysia Agreement 1963," he said, adding that he hoped the coalition would be able to secure partners that would enable the formation of the next government, to ensure political stability and unity in the country.
Perikatan Nasional (PN) chairman Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin meanwhile yesterday following his audience with the king had made an outright rejection on his majesty's proposition for a unity government between his coalition of 73 parliamentary seats and PH.