KOTA KINABALU – Fourteen leaders from the opposition bloc have hit out at Umno for attempting a power grab at the federal level while pushing for a general election amid a health crisis and natural disasters.
They are:
- Datuk Darell Leiking (Penampang)
- Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman (Muar)
- Datuk Mohd Azis Jamman (Sepanggar)
- Hannah Yeoh (Segambut)
- Yeo Bee Yin (Bakri)
- Baru Bian (Selangau)
- Sivarasa Rasiah (Sg Buloh)
- Datuk Seri Salahuddin Ayub (Pulai)
- Datuk Amiruddin Hamzah (Kubang Pasu)
- Teo Nie Ching (Kulai)
- Isnaraissah Munirah Majilis (Kota Belud)
- Datuk Marzuki Yahya (Senator)
- Datuk Mahfuz Omar (Pkok Sena)
- Khalid Samad (Shah Alam)
“Barely three weeks after this supposedly people-friendly budget was passed, Umno now wants to use fresh elections as a trump card to grab more power at the expense of Malaysians’ well-being, health and safety. They have bared their true colours for all to see.
“We are reminded of this – Najib Razak once urged Umno members to defend Putrajaya at all costs.
“Even if our bodies are crushed and our lives lost, brothers and sisters, whatever happens, we must defend Putrajaya,” they said in a statement today.
“Malaysians must reject such wicked and selfish ambition for power. We have lost enough from years of misgovernance and corruption.”
The group also cited the government's handling of the pandemic, saying Malaysia recorded 1,741 new Covid-19 cases yesterday, bringing the total number of infections to 120,818 cases.
Some states have also been hard hit by severe floods, resulting in more than 15,000 Malaysians being displaced, they added.
“Current unemployment or reduced income for many families in this time of pandemic remains unsettling. With these in mind, we are appalled by the continuous demand by Umno to hold snap polls in such a climate,” said the group, adding that, the nation needs to heal and take the time to do so. – The Vibes, January 5, 2021
