Reopenings, vaccination rate vindicate Perikatan from #KerajaanGagal label: Muhyiddin

KUALA LUMPUR – The reopening of the economy and high vaccination rates seen today has vindicated the Perikatan Nasional government from the #KerajaanGagal (failed government) slogan, said Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.
 
The former prime minister, who now chairs the National Recovery Council (NRC), said that the popular hashtag was used by critics of his administration during his time in office.
 
“But the results seen today are evidence of the government’s success in addressing the Covid-19 pandemic,” the Bersatu president said.
 
In an interview on Astro’s Agenda Awani this evening, his first since stepping down on August 16, Muhyiddin said his administration’s critics only used that hashtag to “troll” the government for a while, but the reality seen today has proven otherwise.
 
“(We have been) vindicated by what is happening today, because the process of recovery and overcoming big problems – not only in Malaysia – is known by the entire world.
 
“Looking at the present day, there is plenty of evidence on our success when it comes to the question of managing Covid-19.”
 
Muhyiddin said although infection rates are still high, a large portion of it are mild and in Categories 1, 2, and 3, while the more concerning cases in Categories 4 and 5 make up only 1% or 2% of overall cases.
 
“That is why when we visit hospitals, the number of patients are not as many (as before). Some say that there are more doctors than patients in some places because hospitals have resolved the problems. However, as for intensive care unit cases, they might still be there,” he said.
 
Muhyiddin, who is also Pagoh MP, also called the current vaccination rates in the country “extraordinary”, given that he had instructed then science, innovation and technology minister (Mosti) Khairy Jamaluddin to swiftly procure vaccines last year, although the prices were unclear at the time.
 
“We did not even know the prices of the vaccines, but I said ’buy them’. Therefore, upon my instruction, I have ensured that the supply of vaccines is more than enough,” he said, adding that the country has obtained more than 130% supply for the entire population.
 
“So, if there are injections for our children, it can be done. Or even for booster shots, just like Singapore and other countries that want to raise immunity levels, there are supplies. At the very least, if people want to buy, they can because there is stock, for example.”
 
On the economy, Muhyiddin said that the country lost an estimated RM2.6 billion a day during the previous lockdowns, and the government at one point was warned by the Bank Negara governor that the financial and banking system would crash within a month.
 
“I did open up the sectors at the time and there were people who were angry, but it would be worse if we didn’t. We would lose billions, or a trillion.
 
“Today, almost all sectors have opened... this means there have been achievements in planning made during my time, while the implementation was not completed (before I resigned).
 
“It is continued by the current government, which I see as a PN government, as a large part of is similar to the last administration, with the exception of the prime minister.
 
“We have achieved great success... to me, it is proof that this was not a failed government. More than we expected.”
 
On his recent appointment, Muhyiddin said he saw it as an honour that he would be given the authority to implement policies that were similar to the time when he was prime minister.
 
However, he would still have to seek consultation from the current prime minister and cabinet if decisions involved funds amounted to hundreds of millions.
 
On whether he had any regrets over his resignation, Muhyiddin said he felt it was the right thing to do.
 
“It is not a question of whether I regret it or not. It’s a matter of the principle, of upholding the nation’s constitution.
 
“At the time, I saw that I did not have the support of the majority due to 15 Umno MPs, therefore, I could not last long. And, I had to carry out my responsibility as a Muslim to leave the post.”
 
He added that the post was an “earthly” issue that could not be brought to the afterlife and was God’s will.
 
“But that does not weaken my spirit to do what I think is right.” – The Vibes, September 21, 2021