Umno Youth calls for political ceasefire, to prepare for difficult times ahead

Umno Youth chief Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki has called for a political ceasefire to prepare for the difficult economic times ahead.

This comes amid manoeuvrings by former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad to regain control of the government and Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin's move to block him.

A day after Sri Gading MP Shahruddin Md Salleh resigned as deputy works minister and sided with Mahathir's camp, Lubok Antu MP Jugah Muyang quit PKR and defected to Perikatan Nasional.

Asyraf said the PN government was able to come up with the National Economic Recovery Plan (Pejana) to help the economy that has been hit hard by the Covid-19 pandemic despite having to face "political obsession" by certain leaders that threatened its stability.

"The next three to six months will be the most difficult time for the people to adjust, post-movement control order, to a more challenging life due to the economic turmoil from the Covid-19 pandemic.

"To realise the economic recovery, Umno Youth calls on politicians, regardless of political parties in the government or opposition, to immediately have a political ceasefire," he said in a statement.

Asyraf said efforts should be geared to helping people out of economic hardship.

"Combining our efforts to help the people facing hardship should be the priority over short-term politicking and continuous political struggle that will be a detriment to the country and people's long-term interest," he said.

Asyraf said Umno Youth will mobilise all its machinery to implement the economic recovery plan unveiled by Muhyiddin yesterday.

Muhyiddin was sworn in as the new prime minister on March 1 after Mahathir refused to lead a new coalition he put together comprising Bersatu, BN, PAS, GPS, PBS and STAR.

Muhyiddin had pulled Bersatu out of Harapan, leading to the collapse of the Harapan government in late February.

Mahathir has indicated he planned to take Bersatu back to Harapan but at present, Muhyiddin appears to have the upper hand in the party. - Mkini