All Opposition Parties Should Initiate Own Shadow Cabinets
We do not want to blame the Opposition coalition Pakatan Rakyat (PKR, DAP and PAS) over the ineffectiveness of the parliamentary shadow committees initiated earlier, but we should blame the BN government for its refusal to recognize the institution of a shadow cabinet in this country.
The internal bickering among component parties of Pakatan Rakyat is a secondary issue as in a democracy of a coalition structure, each of the component parties should agree to disagree with each other constructively in order to be equals in the coalition, compare to the one in BN where all its component parties need to be subservient to the dominance of Umno, the main and leading party in the BN coalition.
The refusal of the BN government to recognize the institution of shadow cabinet in the parliamentary opposition bench has indeed resulted to numerous limitations and difficulties on the Opposition parties to perform in the parliament in terms of allocations and having access to research facilities as well as other avenues within the administration.
In this case, all Opposition parties should depend on their own resources and expertise as well as donations from the general public to get their jobs done and to ensure an effective check and balance are being carried out on (not against, as usually described) the BN government’s administration and day-to-day state of affairs.
As such, all Opposition parties are urged to establish their own shadow cabinets or a team of shadow spokespersons to effectively oversee the current BN government. The more, the better as it will live-up the parliamentary session with focused questions, debates, discussions and exchange in views. The BN government will not be able to sit peacefully and just cover-up on whatever issues or challenges that arise daily.
We are not encouraging disunity among component parties of Pakatan Rakyat, but given to the fact of the non-existence of the shadow cabinet institution and no recognition from the establishment, PKR, DAP and PAS should go on with their own shadowing business competitively but to remain coordinated with each other supported by their own resources. They have no choice but to function separately in order to stay relevant.
DAP has made their move, and it is PKR and PAS’ turn to start one each inside their own and there’s no time to waste now as it is already in the middle of the 13th parliamentary term.
Asides, functioning separately in their shadowing business will also demonstrate their eagerness, determination and commitment to issues and matters on the state of affairs as well as keeping their close tab on the BN government’s performance and administration.
So, let us all stop wasting our time and forget about pushing for the shadow cabinet as its system does not exist at all in our country’s parliamentary framework. Let us all focus on the Opposition parties individually so that these Pakatan Rakyat members of parliament can perform effectively and competitively.
We certainly would like to see not only an effective but also a competitive new government in the near future isn’t so? In this case, let them do their own stuff of checking this BN government from all corners with no holds left exposed.
Opposition Parties Outside Parliament (Non-Parliamentary Opposition Parties)
Now, coming to Opposition parties which do not have any representations or with only one or two elected representatives in the parliament (and state legislative assemblies), this should not be an excuse for not having any shadow cabinets within their party framework.
These Opposition parties are* Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM), Parti Kesejahteraan Insan Tanah Air (KITA), Parti Rakyat Malaysia (PRM), Green Party of Malaysia (Parti Hijau), Parti Ikatan Bangsa Malaysia (Ikatan), Parti Buruh Bersekutu Malaysia, State Reform Party (Star), Parti Bansa Dayak Sarawak-Baru (PBDS-Baru), United Sabah National Organization-Baru (Usno-Baru), Human Rights Party (HRP) and Sarawak Workers’ Party (SWP), to name a few.
Yes, it would be a little awkward if we mention shadow cabinet within an Opposition party which has no members of parliament or state legislator in its fold. So, let us address them as a team of shadow spokespersons overseeing government ministries’ portfolios.
Asides, shadowing the federal cabinet portfolios, this framework can also be utilized to shadow the state executive councils (state governments) as well as city and municipal councils. It totally depends on which area or interest an Opposition party wish to focus on.
Apart from this, by having Opposition parties without representatives in the parliament or state legislative assemblies (also known as non-parliamentary Opposition parties) to establish their own team of shadow spokespersons will also enable them to demonstrate their expertise in various areas to the voters, to offer the people an alternative (rather than to totally depending on a two-party system) and to show the electorate their worthiness and readiness of being elected.
Today, we are living in a modern and sophisticated world, everyone are looking not only on manifestos of political parties but they expect political parties to talk and discuss on major issues that are affecting our country and the people and checking the government of the day on their administration and attitude towards the population.
Having vocal and issue-sensitive non-parliamentary Opposition parties in the political arena will also attract our people and the younger generations to see the effectiveness of these parties, then later to join and participate with them rather than to totally depending on either the Barisan Nasional (governing) or Pakatan Rakyat (opposition) component parties in order to get some matters done or issues addressed.
*We apologize if any non-parliamentary Opposition parties are not mentioned or listed herein.
