KUALA LUMPUR – The opposition raised the spectre of the Arab Spring today, telling the unity government not to disregard the voices of Malaysians struggling with the high cost of living.
Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin (Larut-PN) told the Dewan Rakyat that the government should take those events in the Middle East as a lesson and to take more meaningful actions.
The opposition leader said the reality on the ground is that many Malaysians continue to live in hardship and are heavily in debt as they struggle to make ends meet.
"The Arab Spring incident must serve as a lesson to the government. As a responsible opposition, we in Perikatan Nasional (PN) do not want a similar situation in Malaysia," he said when debating the royal address in the lower House today.
The Arab Spring was a wave of anti-government protests and uprisings that took place in various countries in the Middle East and North Africa in the early 2010s in response to graft and economic stagnation.
The wave saw violent clashes between security forces and protesters that killed thousands, and resulted in the toppling of several government regimes.
Hamzah said the government should walk the talk on their efforts to aid the rakyat and revitalise the economy, noting that “many” of their proposals and formulas prior to forming the government have yet to be implemented.
He added that those in power should not allow economic hardships to fester to the point of resulting in the suffering of the masses.
“During the election campaign, they barked about resolving all problems if they take over the government. The fact is, not only does the issue of egg scarcity continue to exist, but now the prices of vegetables are increasing.
“I realise the government under Tambun (Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim) has yet to reach 100 days in power, but already many questions are being asked by the public.
“One by one, weaknesses, incompetence, and abuse of power are surfacing, causing anxiety among the rakyat. Less talk, more work, and deliver results.”
Separately, Hamzah urged the government to stop the practice of “witch-hunting” opposition politicians.
The PN secretary-general pointed out that many accusations and slander have been thrown at the opposition figures, forcing them on the defensive.
“We are forced to respond and inform the rakyat that we are a group that was formed to help the rakyat and not to enrich anyone.
“We won’t allow this issue to derail us from our original struggle. God willing, as long as we are able, you can do anything, but we will continue our fight for race, religion, and nation.” – The Vibes, February 14, 2023
