Hisham to MPs: Focus on Covid-19 first, 'hijacking' can come later

 

Foreign Minister Hishammuddin Hussein has urged MPs to focus on the country's Covid-19 response first and not "hijack" the existing political "stability".

Writing on his personal blog today, Hishammuddin said the country requires political stability to deal with Covid-19.

"This stability may allow Parliament to reopen. This same stability may also give MPs the right to ask questions, and the government to answer during parliamentary sessions.

"But the most pertinent point is that this stability must not be hijacked.

"I understand that this stability I am calling for will not last forever. But my plea is simple – just until the point when Covid-19 is settled," he added.

Hishammuddin said that should there be a change in government, it will affect the National Recovery Plan.

"Will the National Recovery Plan be scrapped in spite just to come up with something new? A fragmented recovery plan for Covid-19 is sorely not needed.

"In these trying times, Malaysians should not be dragged into the scene of yet another power struggle," he added.

According to Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin, Parliament will be reconvened in Phase 3 of the National Recovery Plan. Phase 3 is targeted for September and October.

The conditions to enter Phase 3 include first having less than 2,000 daily new Covid-19 cases; followed by "sufficient" availability of intensive care (ICU) beds and 40 percent of the population vaccinated.

It is uncertain if the daily new cases use a seven-day average benchmark, or whether increased case numbers can result in a regression through the phases. The government's criteria for "sufficient" or "moderate" ICU bed use is also undefined.

Although Muhyiddin managed to pass Budget 2021 on Dec 15 last year, it is uncertain now whether he still commanded a majority in the Dewan Rakyat following the Umno general assembly's decision in March to cut ties with Perikatan Nasional (PN) and Bersatu.

Prior to the passing of Budget 2021, Umno had joined forces with Pakatan Harapan to oust Bersatu deputy president Ahmad Faizal Azumu as Perak menteri besar.

Hishammuddin said MPs must not be perpetually stuck in "realpolitik" because the crisis requires lawmakers to work together as a collective.

"If the opposition's intention is to merely use Parliament to gain power instead of Parliament's intended role of providing a constructive bipartisan discourse, then this would be a problem.

"I will not deny that the opposition has every right to throw criticisms, but political expediency at this point in time will not be judged well by the people," he added.

The Sembrong MP was part of the opposition until Feb 24 last year when the Sheraton Move putsch occurred, ousting the Harapan administration and heralding the PN government. - Mkini