PSM tells govt to fix Covid-19 mess, not to be absorbed in horse-trading

 

PSM predicts politicians will be preoccupied with horse-trading following Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin's announcement that he will let lawmakers decide his fate in Parliament next month.

However, PSM deputy chairperson S Arutchelvan warned that it should not come at the expense of battling the Covid-19 pandemic which continues to surge in Malaysia.

He said the one-month window would also allow Ismail Sabri Yaakob and Hishammuddin Hussein to consolidate their positions within Umno.

“There might even be attempts to destabilise Umno, whose president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and those aligned to him have withdrawn their support for the prime minister.

“Whatever happens, the public is only interested in seeing an end to the Covid-19 crisis and for normalcy to return. The people are suffering while politicians jostle for power.

“These politicians tell Malaysians to stay home but go about holding meetings all over the place in violation of the standard operating procedure (SOP) without repercussions.

“The fact is Malaysians are fed up with the political crisis and power-crazed politicians. They feel that the current government has failed to deal with the pandemic.

“Covid-19 will ultimately decide the fate of this government,” he told Malaysiakini.

PSM deputy chairperson S Arutchelvan

On the same note, Arutchelvan cautioned the government against abusing public institutions and the civil service in its bid to hold on to power.

“PSM hopes all institutions and the civil service such as the police, MACC, Internal Revenue Board and Health Ministry will remain neutral and not aid in suppressing democratic principles.

“Democratic principles are often sacrificed whenever the ruling party is in crisis. We have seen this happen before with past administrations,” he added.

In a televised address this afternoon, Muhyiddin said he still commanded majority support of lawmakers but agreed to test it via a vote of confidence in the Dewan Rakyat.

This followed the announcement by Zahid yesterday that Umno MPs have withdrawn their support for the prime minister, who came to power after a political coup.

Apart from Zahid, 10 other Umno MPs were present at the press conference. - Mkini