Former finance minister Lim Guan Eng said the Perikatan Nasional government must stop dithering on the multiple crises plaguing the country.
"The new unelected government should take charge immediately and stop dithering in managing the severe economic and health crisis brought on by the Covid-19 and precipitous drop in oil prices.
"For the new government not to hold an emergency meeting on Sunday when Malaysia recorded 190 new Covid-19 cases, an increase of 80 percent to 428 cases, is clearly an abdication both of duty and responsibility.
"Many are asking if those involved in overthrowing a democratically-elected government can meet on a Sunday (Feb 23) in Sheraton Hotel, why can’t the government do the same yesterday on a Sunday to deal with this health and economic crisis?
"In fact, I had continued to work on Feb 23 on a Sunday to complete the RM20 billion economic stimulus package," he said in a statement today.
Lim said instead, the new government focussed its attention on "petty issues" such as the uniforms of air stewardess or having Umno youth leaders "spread lies" about his son's arrest.
The Bagan MP also criticised former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak for pinning the blame of the national crises on him.
Yesterday, Najib highlighted Lim's statement on Feb 6 when he assured that Malaysia won't face an economic downturn as the then Pakatan Harapan government was rolling out an economic stimulus.
Najib had accused Lim of underestimating the crisis when he was the finance minister.
This comes after Putrajaya said it expected the nation’s gross domestic product to drop between 0.8 percent and 1.2 percent.
"Just as he refused to admit his responsibility for the adverse financial impact of the RM52 billion 1MDB scandal over our economy, Najib now blames me even for the precipitous drop in oil prices which happened after the new unelected government was formed in March 2020.
"The question is why is Najib not doing the same on former economic affairs minister Azmin Ali for the economic impact of the Covid-19.
"Clearly, such selective profiling or targeting is in line with this new unelected government that does not represent all Malaysians but seeks to rule by dividing the people and disrupting the existing harmony in our society," Lim said.
Lim said any Malaysian government should try to represent and unite all Malaysians instead of adopting divisive and discriminatory policies.
He blasted the government for following the "toxic politics of fear, lies and threats based on sentiments to remain in power at all cost".
"I am proud of being part of an elected Harapan government that rejected such toxic politics and is a truly multi-racial and multi-religious coalition representing all Malaysians," he said.
The Harapan government collapsed on Feb 24.
Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin, who pulled Bersatu out from Harapan to form a new Perikatan Nasional government with PKR defectors, BN, PAS, GPS and other minor parties, was sworn in as prime minister on March 1. - Mkini
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