KUALA LUMPUR – Perikatan Nasional’s incompetence in handling the country’s third Covid-19 wave is the reason why a strong and cohesive new administration is desperately needed, said PKR communications chief Fahmi Fadzil.
Speaking about Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s upcoming audience with the Yang di-Pertuan Agong on Tuesday, where the opposition leader is expected to show that he has the numbers to form a new government, Fahmi said Malaysia needs a stable administration that knows what it is doing.
“There is a total lack of coordination and cohesiveness in the current administration, which is putting lives at risk,” he told The Vibes.
He cited the example of the deputy health minister saying schools are safe, only for there to be coronavirus cases reported in several schools a day later.
“Then, parents (of pupils) in SK Bangsar decided to keep their children home. No coordination between the Health and Education Ministries.”
He took aim at Defence Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob for back-pedalling on certain measures under the conditional movement control order (CMCO) in Klang.
“First, he said (the CMCO applied to the) whole of Klang, but then, he said only several areas in Klang.
“He said up to 500 wedding guests are permitted, only to backtrack to 250.”
A government that has a solid majority and is led by Anwar will provide the stability and direction the country needs to combat the pandemic, said Fahmi.
He said people should not compare the PKR president’s bid to that of former Sabah chief minister Tan Sri Musa Aman, who attempted a takeover of the state government with a majority of just one rep.
“But here, he (Anwar) has strong, formidable and convincing majority support to form a government, so in my opinion, I do not see the dissolution of Parliament being a result of his audience with the king,” he said, allaying fears of a snap election being called amid the virus crisis and causing a fresh Covid-19 wave, like what happened after the September 26 Sabah polls.
He said Anwar’s meeting with the Agong is timely given the way the health crisis is being handled by the PN government, where there is a disconnect among ministers, and between the political leadership and civil servants.
“The country needs a strong, responsible government to lead the charge against Covid-19, not the current set-up who are only about staying in power and putting political interests before the people’s well-being.”
Anwar’s briefing to PKR leaders two days ago touched more on the pandemic and the need to take care of the public than his audience with the king next week, said Fahmi.
“It shows that his priority is the people.”
Meanwhile, Singapore Institute of International Affairs senior fellow Oh Ei Sun said there are two schools of thought regarding the transition of power at this particular point in time.
One is that PN should continue to rule, and the other is that there should be a return to the Pakatan Harapan government.
“There are those who argue for stability and continuity amid the resurgent pandemic.
“But, there are also those who argue that the ineptitude or incompetence of the current government was what led to the pandemic resurgence, and a reversion to a democratically elected government is in order.” – The Vibes, October 11, 2020
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