MP: PM should seek truce or be remembered as a coward

 

Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin should explore methods of passing Budget 2021 instead of bypassing Parliamentary scrutiny, said Kota Kinabalu MP Chan Foong Hin.

In a statement today, Chan should Muhyiddin choose to prorogue Parliament, as widely speculated, history would not remember him kindly.

"We are all mature politicians... It is time for a truce deal with Muhyiddin's government.

"To this end, DAP had, via its organising Anthony Loke, stated its terms. Everyone should come to the negotiating table regardless of political differences and reconcile for the sake of the community.

"Should Muhyiddin insist on proceeding with the declaration of a state of emergency, he will be remembered in the history of Malaysia as being a cowardly prime minister who has zero confidence in himself that he had to rely on crippling the legislature to avoid scrutiny," said Chan.

Loke, who is the de-facto second-highest-ranking leader in DAP, had suggested on Aug 18 and Oct 22 that his party was ready to negotiate with any party to ensure political stability.

These suggestions came amidst uncertainty because Muhyiddin's thin-majority in Parliament was under threat.

Currently, speculation is rife that Muhyiddin was seeking a state of emergency to prorogue Parliament to avoid a vote on Budget 2021.

The DAP is the single party with the largest number of MPs in Parliament at 42.

Meanwhile, Chan said Parliament must be allowed to scrutinise Budget 2021 and the government's handling of the Covid-19 crisis as the people have mandated their MPs to do so.

"Worst still, Sabah's MPs arrived in Kuala Lumpur two weeks earlier for self-quarantine just to attend the upcoming session of Parliament starting on Nov 2 during this pandemic.

"Could it be that our 14-day quarantine time would end up as a waste? As an MP from Sabah, I have no interest in flying to Kuala Lumpur to live in a hotel for nothing.

"We are here to perform the official duties of an MPs," Chan.

The Dewan Rakyat is scheduled to convene on Nov 2. Budget 2021 is scheduled to be tabled on Nov 6 with voting on Nov 17.

Chan arrived in Kuala Lumpur on Oct 15 and is undergoing quarantine at a National Disaster Management Agency designated hotel.

Kudat MP Isnaraissah Munirah Majilis, who is also under quarantine in the capital, tweeted in objection to the possibility of a declaration of emergency as well.

"I'm under quarantine for 14 days to prepare for Parliament, but now they want emergency?

"That's the worst," she said. - Mkini