GEORGE TOWN – Tan Sri Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah said he prefers that the next general election be called soonest to restore the country’s political stability to fight Covid-19 and get its economy back on track.
“Tell me where in the world we can find a country whose government has changed three times in the span of two years. It breeds huge discontentment and much uncertainty,” said the Gua Musang MP affectionately known as Ku Li.
“We need to go back to the people and seek a fresh mandate.”
Earlier, Ku Li launched a unity forum at Universiti Sains Malaysia held in conjunction with the state level Unity Day, organised by the Penang consultative goodwill council.
Present were the council’s president Tan Sri Mohd Yussof Latiff and Deputy Chief Minister I Datuk Ahmad Zakiyuddin Abdul Rahman, who represented Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow.
Ku Li said that the country was reeling from a series of unexpected incidents, bringing the prospects of Malaysia becoming a failed nation closer to reality.
“There is now an inability to restore (real) growth despite what the public government reports may indicate, and on top of it, we continue to struggle against Covid-19.
“There is an emerging crisis of confidence over the effectiveness of the government to handle the crisis confronting the country,” Ku Li said.
Malaysia’s unemployment is now around two million people, with inflation left unchecked and the ringgit poised to weaken further, disrupting the supply chain and even food security, said Ku Li.
He also said that the next election’s outcome will not see anyone dominating the results, so whoever wins the most seats needs to consider sharing power.
“Winning at the state level is no indication. One can fare well at the general election.”
Ku Li also did not rule out the possibility of a national unity government being formed, provided the parties can all agree to concede certain demands and be accommodating.
He said that the Umno elections can wait as the priority now is the people, although the party has no clear choice of who should be the prime minister.
“The present choice is just a coincidence and a composed candidate. Umno has no clear vision on who they can nominate as the next prime minister.”
On resurging Covid-19 cases, Ku Li advised the health authorities to embark on a better communications campaign, with people now wary of rising infection numbers despite the huge inroads made into vaccination and booster shots.
“I think the government is failing the people by discounting the need to be transparent in explaining what this Covid-19 is all about. The public is confused.”
Ku Li said that he is not an anti-vaxxer but the people are being confused by how they are still contracting the virus despite being fully vaccinated. – The Vibes, February 6, 2022