Minority Governments in a Democracy: A Blatant Falsehood

The ongoing saga of power struggles and political instability in Negeri Sembilan persists, showing no signs of resolution. In this highly farcical recent development, the state government of Negeri Sembilan is presently ruled by a minority bloc – a practice that patently contradicts the very democratic system they have long upheld and championed.

This marks the first instance in the history of Malaysia, and perhaps even the world, where an administration is led by a government lacking a majority in the Legislative Assembly. Out of the 36 seats in the State Legislative Assembly, following the withdrawal of support by 14 UMNO state assemblymen for the incumbent Chief Minister, the ruling Pakatan Harapan (PH) government is now left with merely 17 seats. Meanwhile, the remaining 19 seats no longer support the Chief Minister.

The crisis of withdrawing support is neither a novel nor an anomalous occurrence in Malaysia. The sordid state of Malaysian politics has long witnessed various upheavals, all of which stem from a singular cause: the greed and power struggles of the parties involved. Were it not for the pursuit of power, such predicaments would certainly not have transpired.

Setting aside the issue of power struggles, from both democratic and legislative standpoints, a government is no longer permitted to rule once it has lost its majority. This is a fundamental tenet of any democratic system and country.

One must recall that the first iteration of the PH government, under the leadership of Dr. Mahathir, promptly resigned upon losing its majority at the federal level. Why, then, does the current PH government – despite being at the state level – remain obstinate, asserting its legitimacy even after losing its majority?

What policies, laws, or principles are being adhered to this time that differentiate it from the previous PH administration?

The Chief Minister himself has conceded that they currently constitute a "minority government." The question arises: since when has a "minority government" existed, or been permitted to exist, within a democratic system? Why do those in power not simply resign and return the mandate to the people, allowing the people to elect a government based on the majority voice, in accordance with democratic tenets?

In truth, this crisis has unmasked and laid bare yet another monumental falsehood that has long been sanctified by the adherents and idolaters of the democratic system: the concept of rule by majority.

For too long, the public has been indoctrinated with the false premise and rhetoric that democracy is the finest and most equitable system, supposedly because it is founded on the principle of "majority rule." It is alleged that the majority support within the legislative chamber determines who is fit to rule, and that the majority of the populace dictates who rightfully governs!

However, the reality of the ongoing crisis in Negeri Sembilan today proves to be the greatest deception of democracy since its inception in this country, and perhaps even the world. The democratic parties and politicians who have hitherto exalted democracy as a majority rule now, having lost their majority, seem to find the dogma obsolete – betrayed and trampled upon by their very own feet.

One faction claims they remain the legitimate government despite having lost the majority. Conversely, the opposing faction, despite having just secured a majority, is still barred from forming a government as they are prevented by the minority. It is bizarre, yet true.

This crisis also serves as undeniable proof of how man-made systems and laws (the secular-democratic system) are fraught with vested interests, flaws, and loopholes. They can be manipulated at any juncture to serve the self-interests and desires of ruling political parties and politicians, so long as they remain comfortably seated in the corridors of power.

Historically, democracy has never truly been about majority rule, let alone the rule of the people. Rather, it serves as a manipulative tool for the capitalist elites and pragmatic politicians to legitimize their insatiable greed in their quest to monopolize power and the nation's wealth. Majority rule in a democracy is merely a myth; the reality is that the majority of the people do not make the decisions or chart their own destinies. Instead, a minuscule faction of the power elite dictates everything according to their own whims.

The current political instability, which has victimized the populace, is entirely the result of the greed and power struggles among the higher echelons – friends become foes and foes turn into friends; anything can occur in the blink of an eye – all in the pursuit of thrones and wealth. All of this is an inseparable cancer embedded within the democratic system itself. Politicians in a democratic system do not "battle" to uphold the sovereignty of Islam or to safeguard the interests of the Ummah, but rather for the survival of their parties and the lining of their own pockets.

Thus, the time has come for the Muslim Ummah to discard this Kufr (un-Islamic) colonial-inherited system into the dustbin of history. This system will continue to benefit solely the ruling elites and the capitalists closely aligned with them. It will persist in deceiving, victimizing, and oppressing the people, and will absolutely never elevate the dignity of Islam.

The sole obligation and hope for the Muslim Ummah is the Islamic system under the auspices of the Khilafah (Caliphate). The Khilafah has a proven track record of bringing prosperity to the Muslims, guiding this Ummah towards an extraordinary civilization, and standing as a global superpower for over 13 centuries. This is the state that Hizb ut Tahrir is working to establish, and it continuously calls upon the entire Muslim Ummah to support it. By the grace of Allah (swt), the time for the re-establishment of the Khilafah is fast approaching.

Written for the Central Media Office of Hizb ut Tahrir by
Abdul Hakim Othman
Official Spokesperson of Hizb ut Tahrir in Malaysia