KUALA LUMPUR – The Coalition for Clean and Fair Elections (Bersih 2.0) renewed calls for Putrajaya to immediately negotiate a confidence-and-supply agreement (CSA) with the opposition to collectively fight the Covid-19 pandemic.
In a statement today, Bersih 2.0 said CSA negotiations are crucial to stabilise the nation’s politics by making the necessary reforms and concessions.
The coalition cited the success of the Perak government under Menteri Besar Datuk Saarani Mohamad in achieving cooperation with the opposition under the leadership of Datuk Abdul Aziz Bari.
“What is stopping Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin from discussing it with the opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim?”
Bersih 2.0 said CSA-style models in Perak such as the equal constituency development fund and district action committees involving the opposition could be developed at the federal level by allowing parliamentary select committees to sit and check government measures.
“The CSA should be announced publicly so that the people know the terms and reforms that have been agreed between the government and the opposition.”
Meanwhile, Bersih 2.0, echoing opposition coalition Pakatan Harapan, rejected former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s proposal to set up a National Operations Council (Mageran) to help curb the pandemic.
“We would like to state that Mageran 2.0 will cripple the role of Parliament as a platform for policy-making.
“With the proclamation of the emergency, the role of the third branch of government was already crippled, as Parliament and the parliamentary select committee (PSC) were not allowed to sit during this period,” it said.
It added that setting up Mageran 2.0 is regressive because power will, once again, be centralised to certain individuals without a check-and-balance system.
“Mageran 2.0 is redundant because what is important now is to end the emergency immediately so that the government and opposition can play their roles.
“All government programmes such as the National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme and the committees involved, such as the Special Committee on Ensuring Access to Covid-19 Vaccine Supply, can be monitored and improved by the ideas emerging from parliamentary debate with the PSCs,” it said.
On Thursday, Dr Mahathir said he had mooted Mageran to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong during an audience in a bid to bring stability to the current administration.
He added that he brought up the idea after seeing former prime minister Tun Abdul Razak Hussein successfully steer the country back to firmer ground following the May 13, 1969 racial riots.
The Langkawi MP has also offered to lead the council. – The Vibes, June 13, 2021
.jpg)
