(Editor's Note: An earlier copy of this article said politicians would not be included in the council. This has been corrected.)
Former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad today said his vision of a National Operations Council-style government to guide the country through the Covid-19 pandemic will be scrutinised by Parliament but cannot be taken down by politicians.
Calling it Majlis Pemulihan Negara (National Restoration Council), Mahathir said the council’s job was to work towards herd immunity against Covid-19, solve problems regarding education and fix the economy.
He said Parliament will be able to scrutinise the actions of the council but are not allowed to dismantle them.
“The problem with politics is the attempt to seize power. However, if a government is changed, the new government will be weak anyway because of a thin majority.
“A political (solution to the Covid-19 crisis) will only prolong the problem,” said Mahathir on his blog today.
Mahathir said his vision for the council was that it would only deal with these matters and nothing else.
He said the council would report only to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong and would be dissolved once herd immunity was achieved or after a general election is held.
Mahathir said the council would comprise of no more than 20 non-partisan experts and "politicians not acting on behalf of parties".
“Their names will be presented to the Agong. They will serve voluntarily and for free. They have to treat their appointments as a form of national service.
“If the Agong and the Conference of Rulers agree, then (I will) present the nominees of the council for their consideration," he said.
On Thursday, Mahathir revealed that he had mooted this idea when he was granted an audience by the Agong. He also offered his “services” for the new council if it is formed.
However, he said the Agong was of the opinion that such a proposal should only come from the government.
The Agong had summoned political leaders to meet him between Wednesday and Friday. He is expected to meet more political leaders come Monday.
On Wednesday, His Majesty will chair a special Conference of Rulers meeting.
So far, Pakatan Harapan has opposed Mahathir’s idea while Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the idea was not discussed when he was granted his audience with the Agong. - Mkini
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