GEORGE TOWN – A Penang PKR leader has suggested that Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin pursue the prospect of a national unity government instead of relying on a state of emergency until August to fight the worsening pandemic.
An emergency rule anywhere in the world, regardless of how long the duration, sends a wrong message to its citizenry and investors about the country’s integrity, said Kebun Bunga assemblyman Jason Ong Khan Lee.
Ong, who is the Penang PKR vice-chairman, said that Muhyiddin may have meant well in wanting emergency rule but the arguments for it are unconvincing as the country was already under a form of a lockdown under the movement control order (MCO).
Instead, Ong suggested Muhyiddin pursue a national unity form of governance by roping in the talents from both the present government and the opposition.
He said veteran statesmen can also be involved to help assuage negative reactions to the current “triple crisis” – involving challenges on the health, economic and political fronts. .
A unity government is nothing new. When Barisan Nasional was formed in 1973, it was a grand coalition which came together to heal the country after the racial riots, Ong stressed.
Now, a similar concept can be pursued but perhaps for just a short period until the pandemic is totally contained then a fresh general election can be called.
“The concept of unity governance is in practice in at least 32 countries when excessive politicking has bogged down their systems of governance,” he said in an interview.
He said the political situation is the most important as political stability is the main tool in trying to contain a pandemic.
“So politicians need to swallow their egos and come together for the sake of protecting the nation,” he said. “We have a diverse set of leaders who are educated in oriental, Arabic and western educational models. Surely, we can bring them all together to fight this pandemic as Malaysians, not as rivals.”
There is a need to come together in the fight against Covid-19, or it will be difficult to contain the contagion, Ong said, citing the political conflict in the US as an example.
“‘Kita jaga kita’ (caring for ourselves) means politicians must take care of the people. It is not the other way around,” Ong said. “So Muhyiddin should explore this prospect instead of using an emergency ordinance to rule the country.” – The Vibes, January 17, 2021.
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