Harapan wants emergency sitting to discuss bipartisan plan

CORONAVIRUS | Pakatan Harapan has urged Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin to hold an emergency Dewan Rakyat sitting this week to develop a bipartisan response to the Covid-19 outbreak.

In a statement today, the Harapan presidential council said the plan's objective was to rescue Malaysia's economy and save jobs.

The council said protecting jobs was paramount and that many of the stimulus measures offered by Putrajaya currently were short-term in nature and did not cover a large segment of workers, especially those in the informal sector or are self-employed.

“Putting the discussion on jobs at the centre of any government’s plans for the economy is crucial.

“Unfortunately, this has not been the case with the government’s plan thus far."

The council said an emergency session of parliament can be held with reduced numbers, pointing to how Canadian lawmakers had recently convened to pass a wage subsidy scheme with only 32 out of its 338 lawmakers in order to ensure social distancing.

The council said it was ready to discuss ways to hold the meeting with the government.

“The Parliament is the highest body representing all Malaysians. In times of crisis, the Parliament is the avenue for the voices of our elected representative to be heard, articulated and expressed.

“We need a bipartisan solution and show the rakyat our solidarity as Malaysians in facing the greatest challenge the nation has ever faced.

“The prime minister has to show he is prepared to facilitate this by convening an emergency sitting of the Parliament,” said the council.

The statement by the council was signed by PKR president Anwar Ibrahim, Amanah president Mohamad Sabu and DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng.

Parliament is scheduled to be held only on May 18. - Mkini