KUALA LUMPUR: The unity government is a formula towards political stability, aimed at bringing economic prosperity and preserving the wellbeing of the people.
Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said immediately after the 15th General Election (GE15) results showed that no party had obtained a majority, the Pakatan Harapan (PH) leadership then consulted with other parties.
Saifuddin, who is also the PH secretary gbeneral, believed that being in the opposition was not an option and that the coalition of parties involved must form a government with Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim as the prime minister.
"From there, I was instructed to approach the main players of non-PH parties that won a number of seats to invite them to participate.
"It turns out that the steps became much easier, with the idea of a unity government being recommended at the right time by Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri'ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah.
"Thus, the formation of the cabinet was completed yesterday. This government, the unity government with PH, Barisan Nasional (BN), Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS), Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS), Parti Warisan (Warisan) and Parti Bangsa Malaysia (PBM)," he said in a Facebook post this morning.
Yesterday, Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi was sworn in as Deputy Prime Minister I and as Rural and Regional Development Minister, followed by Deputy Prime Minister II, Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof who is also the Plantation and Commodities Minister.
The unity government has 28 ministers, a smaller cabinet compared to the previous administration's 31 ministers.
Saifuddin's post also explained the background behind the formation of the government, with him saying that the idea was put forward by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong himself to all party leaders and everyone agreed to it except for Perikatan Nasional (PN).
"I am proud to be part of those who had contributed towards the formation of this unity government," he said.
"We have also been watching the changes within the country's political landscape that do not allow a (single) party or coalition to form a government on its own.
"All parties or coalitions are potential friends to be negotiated with. I am lucky because of the foresight of the Prime Minister (Anwar) who supported this approach. An inclusive political approach. Gathering of friends and reducing enemies.
"I was given the widest possible opportunity and role to build a cross-party political network while being active in PKR," he said.
He explained that the cross party political networking is based on 'trust and respect' beginning with PH himself.
"The ties between the leaders is also quite close. DAP secretary general Anthony Loke; DAP chairman Lim Guan Eng; Perak DAP chief Nga Kor Ming; Bukit Mertajam Member of Parliament Steven Sim; DAP national deputy chairman Gobind Singh Deo; Kula (Ipoh Barat MP M.Kulasegaran) and Amanah president Mohamad Sabu; Amanah deputy president Datuk Seri Salahuddin Ayub; Amanah strategy director Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad; Amanah vice president Datuk Seri Dr Mujahid Yusof Rawa.
"The others are Save Kelantan chairman Datuk Husam Musa; Amanah communications director Khalid Abdul Samad and Amanah elections director Dr Hatta Ramli, for example, have been my friends for decades. We understand each other's political moves," he said.
In addition, he said, his long personal relationship with the BN leadership, especially Umno, MIC and MCA, made it easier for him to negotiate and discuss matters involving in the formation of the unity government.
"BN chairman and Umno president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi; MCA president, Datuk Seri Ir Dr Wee Ka Siong and MIC president Tan Sri S A Vigneswaran and MIC deputy president Datuk Seri M Saravanan have been close friends for decades.
"It also includes friends from Sarawak, the President of the Sarawak People's Party (PRS), Datuk Joseph Salang Gandum; GPS secretary general Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi; Member of Parliament for Bintulu, Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing; Member of Parliament for Satok, Datuk Ibrahim Baki and former Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Parliament and Law), Datuk Seri Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar, are among several names, who are very easy to talk to.
"Similarly, the President of Parti Warisan (Warisan), Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal, Datuk Darell Leiking and Sabah Chief Minister and GRS chairman Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor from Sabah are also friends who came to support," he said.
Saifuddin added that several lessons were also learnt in the formation of the unity government, namely, always practicing an open political approach.
"This is because politics is dynamic. Therefore, the political approach must also be flexible. Besides, we have to respect friends and foes because we never know when we will need each other.
"Not only that, in politics this (unity government formation) requires patience. This politics is a marathon that is slow to reach its destination," he said.