PETALING JAYA: Umno Youth wants a wartime unity government to be led by a "non-controversial, non-threatening" interim prime minister with no long-term aim of building a political power base.

       Its chief Datuk Dr Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki said if Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin resigns on Monday (Aug 16) after losing majority support as stated under Article 43 (4) of the Federal Constitution, the power to appoint a new prime minister will be in the hands of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong pursuant to Article 40 (2) (a) of the Constitution.

       "In order to reduce the political temperature in the country and focus on efforts to address Covid-19 as well as the welfare of the people who are suffering, Umno Youth proposes the appointment of an interim prime minister who is not controversial, not considered a threat to any individual, has no political aims to kill off his political rivals or build up his political war chest," Asyraf said in a Facebook post Monday.

       He suggested that the interim prime minister could form a bipartisan "War Cabinet" similar to the United Kingdom’s experience in several major events such as World War II under Winston Churchill.

       "The 'War Cabinet' is like a ‘unity government’ that is inclusive, consisting of representatives of all major parties... government or opposition," he said.

       He added that the focus of the Cabinet should be on three main things - to address Covid-19 and accelerate vaccination so that the country can immediately achieve herd immunity; stabilise the economy; and help citizens who are in dire need at this time.

       Asyraf also proposed to reduce the Cabinet from 70 ministers and deputy ministers to a maximum of 10 or 15 coordinating ministers.

       "The interim government would only be for the period until group immunity is achieved, that is, more than 90% of the people are vaccinated. The (time-frame) for this can be between six and nine months.

       "If herd immunity is achieved, the interim prime minister must advise the Agong to dissolve Parliament to return the mandate to the people (in) the next general election," he said.

       Asyraf said that through an interim unity government there would be no more "horse trading" activities involving MPs and other politicians.

       "There would be no more intense competition with the (tactic) of ‘knife, pen or chequebook’ to weaken (political rivals)," he said.