Perikatan Nasional masih jauh daripada ‘kerajaan menanti’ berwibawa

A healthy democratic system requires a dynamic opposition, but it is not a luxury. Their role extends far beyond simply opposing the existing government; they must act as a constructive government-in-waiting, offering clear alternative visions and actions for national progress. Unfortunately, for the Perikatan Nasional (PN) coalition, the opposition -- represented by the coalition -- is failing to meet this democratic mandate.

To the common public, they increasingly appear unable to present themselves as a responsible, united, and capable team to govern the country. Recent parliamentary sessions have often devolved into political sarcasm rather than elevating the quality of national discourse. Instead of being lawmakers with vision, some opposition figures prefer to act like clowns, relying on gimmicks, disruptions, and verbal sparring for media attention.

The mere circus at times during the discussion on the 2026 Energy Supply Bill became a shameful spectacle. The House of Representatives witnessed a parade of opposition MPs exchanging insults and drunkenness, followed by loyalists of the government engaging in rhetoric related to alcohol and religion, ultimately leading to the expulsion of an opposition MP from the esteemed House.

The main problem of the opposition is a deficit in substantive content. A constructive opposition should function as a vital reference and balancing point to the executive power, scrutinizing legislation, enforcing fiscal discipline, and consistently raising structured concerns about governance, discipline, and inflation. While the PN is rightly critical of the executive's fundamental decisions -- such as rationalizing fuel and electricity subsidies, sparking controversy, and introducing digital and carbon taxes -- their criticism is empty rhetoric without alternatives.

When civil society and economic think tanks urge the PN to present an alternative work plan with clear budgets to address middle-class living costs, the response is disheartening. Leadership at the highest level of the opposition refuses to address the need for an alternative national budget plan, even dismissing such efforts as mere vanity because they claim it is unrealistic for the existing government to implement.

This attitude reveals a deep misunderstanding of the opposition's true function. While it is easy to point fingers at the broken window, providing and shaping plans for rebuilding it is a far more challenging task. The fundamental deficiency is closely linked to the internal structure and stability of the PN coalition. Although the coalition set up portfolio committees to act as a shadow cabinet, its top leaders were removed due to their failure to spark deep debates or present sector-specific bills.

The opposition is criticized for failing to generate alternative economic action plans, instead focusing more on reactive politics. At the same time, the credibility of the opposition structure suffers severe blows when the Malaysian Business Registration Department cancels the registration of a serious internal opposition proposal between PAS and Bersatu, with senior Bersatu members openly condemning the coalition for failing to manage the bloc based on democratic principles and discipline.

Over-reliance on identity politics only exacerbates the fundamental deficiency. Analysts often note that the opposition prioritizes divisive ethnic and religious rhetoric over concrete economic solutions. While supporters argue this positions the PN as a nationalist-conservative crusader, this narrow focus unintentionally alienates support from diverse ethnic and religious groups.

Building a vision solely on the identity axis cannot address issues like income disparity, improving healthcare systems, or enhancing the quality of education. Malaysia currently faces complex global and domestic challenges that demand mature and rigorous intellectual discourse. By choosing rhetorical gimmicks over constructive structural alternatives, the Perikatan Nasional opposition is ultimately disappointing the very people they are meant to represent.

To be recognized as a government-in-waiting, the PN must abandon sarky politics, actively establish a shadow cabinet, resolve internal turmoil, and prove to the public that they can govern with intellectual acumen rather than identity politics and empty rhetoric.