LETTER | The Centre for Independent Journalism condemns the actions of parties who seek to undermine the democratic will of the people expressed in the 14th general election and calls for fresh elections in the wake of the current political turmoil.

The deposing of the Pakatan Harapan government by the withdrawal of Bersatu and 11 PKR MPs from the coalition government is a betrayal of the electorate who voted in 2018 to change the government for the first time in 61 years since independence.

This historic win by Harapan occurred on the back of promises made by its leaders to eradicate corruption, implement key institutional reforms and improve living standards, as set out in its manifesto Buku Harapan.

Any new reconfiguration, that is premised on a reported new coalition which includes Umno, the dominant party in BN, that was expressly rejected by the electorate in GE14, invalidates and makes a mockery of the promises that were made by Bersatu and the 11 former PKR members, who were all coalition partners in Harapan.

The machinations show that there is an urgent need for accelerating and deepening the reform agenda so that the will of the people is not thwarted. This agenda includes institutionalising human rights at the heart of Malaysia's democracy.

Thus, we reject any backdoor reconfiguration of the government and the only way for a new government to regain the rakyat’s trust in these circumstances is for parties to seek a fresh mandate from the electorate through a fresh election.

The Centre for Independent Journalism (CIJ) is a non-profit organisation that aspires for a society that is democratic, just and free where all people will enjoy free media and the freedom to express, seek, and impart information. CIJ actively advocates for broader space for expression and views and openness of information in Malaysia.

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