Work together for the nation, not for self - Maria to Harapan

Petaling Jaya MP Maria Chin Abdullah has urged Pakatan Harapan to unite together to work for the nation, instead of self-interest.

She said the weaknesses of the Perikatan Nasional government needed to be countered, including on Putrajaya's economic recovery plan.

"It is very timely for Harapan to work together for the nation and come up with an economic recovery plan so as to show the way forward.

"We have to support each other and work for the greater good of this nation and not for the self," Maria (above) told Malaysiakini.

Her comments came as Harapan, Dr Mahathir Mohamad's faction, and Warisan, continue to wrangle over who should be prime minister if they are able to seize Putrajaya back from PN.

PN took over the administration in March and has since been saddled with leading the country through the Covid-19 pandemic, which has taken a toll on the economy.

Last week the government unveiled its economic recovery package dubbed Penjana, a budget of the size of RM35 billion, including RM9 billion dedicated to ensuring job security for hundreds of thousands of people.

However, the government had received criticisms as they pushed it through without tabling the budget in Parliament for approval.

Maria said there are also questions about where the government is getting the monies to fund Penjana.

"Since the takeover of the backdoor government, there has been a number of human rights violations, such as hauling up activists and politicians for a police investigation on statements made, taking over of GLCs by members of Parliament as CEOs or chairs.

"They should (instead) be having a parliamentary session to bravely discuss the budget, policies on Covid-19, economic recovery plans and many more important issues," she also said. - Mkini