Mat Sabu slams Azmin over calls to unite against Covid-19

 

Amanah president Mohamad Sabu has slammed Perikatan Nasional information chief Azmin Ali over the latter’s call to unite with the people in facing the Covid-19 pandemic.

Mohamad, who is better known by his moniker Mat Sabu, said everyone is already involved in the pandemic and there is no need for him to issue the statement.

“All of the rakyat are involved in the pandemic. There is no need to tell us.

“We are all working together in facing the Covid-19 pandemic, there is no need for anyone to tell us. We take collective responsibility (regardless of political affiliation), no need for anyone to tell us,” he told reporters when met at Wisma Amanah Negara in Kuala Lumpur today.

He said this when asked to comment on Azmin’s call yesterday for all parties to unite in containing the spread of the disease, especially politicians.

Azmin also said PN is determined to work hard with the people and frontliners to tackle the pandemic.

When contacted for comments regarding Azmin’s statement, PKR secretary-general Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said Azmin should heed lessons from a quote by Caliph Umar Al-Khattab.

“It is hard for us to heed the advice of a traitor. So, to borrow his words to (PKR president Anwar Ibrahim), look in the mirror first.

“And my advice to Azmin is a piece of advice attributed to Caliph Umar. Umar said even a prosperous country could face ruin, and his companions asked how a prosperous country could be ruined.

“Umar replied that is if the head of the government (the prime minister in this context) is a traitor and its wealth is owned by people who are fasiq (impious, depraved).

“My advice to Azmin is to heed Umar’s message,” he told Malaysiakini.

Meanwhile, Amanah communications director Khalid Samad likened Azmin’s call to clapping with one hand.

“Just as he has set aside political differences for the people’s interests, so will we. That is to say, it takes two hands to tango.

“For example, ‘stop politicking, stop politicking’ and then seize power in Johor, Perak, Malacca, Kedah and finally in Sabah. It’s that kind of ‘stop politicking’ atmosphere,” the Shah Alam MP said.

DAP’s Raub MP Tengku Zulpuri Shah Raja Puji, meanwhile, said a decision will be made by the DAP central executive committee.

“DAP prioritises the people and differences in political opinion is normal.

“For me, what the Yang di-Pertuan Agong said should be upheld, as a country that is a parliamentary constitutional monarchy. Regardless, this budget must be tabled in Parliament for feedback by MPs or suggestions for improvement and so on.

“It can’t be denied that although the ruling government will seek to consolidate its position at this critical condition, perhaps there would be an extraordinary budget,” he said.

As for Umno Youth chief Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki, he said the PN government could no longer rest comfortably on its laurels and take an exclusivist stance towards its administration due to its slim majority in the Dewan Rakyat.

“Instead it should involve all parties in the national reconciliation agenda to enable this country to be administrated with comprehensive participation across party lines, to ensure political stability and focus on assisting the people,” he told Malaysiakini when contacted.

The PN-led government is currently under pressure after Umno considered withdrawing support for the coalition while Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin failed in his bid to seek a proclamation of emergency.

Yesterday, however, BN parliamentarians and the Umno supreme council held separate meetings and decided to continue supporting PN and reject cooperation with PKR and DAP. - Mkini