Muhyiddin: We're not like Mahathir, PN won't lie to the people

 

MALACCA POLLS | Perikatan Nasional chairperson Muhyiddin Yassin pledged that his coalition won't do-a-Mahathir with its manifesto for the Malacca polls which is set to be unveiled on Sunday.

Muhyiddin, who noted that Mahathir, as the prime minister for the Pakatan Harapan government from 2018 to 2020 had said that its manifesto was "not the bible", said he does not plan to emulate such behaviour.

"We are not Pakatan Harapan. During Harapan's time, they promised the moon and sun but then Mahathir said the manifesto does not need to be abided by.

"We won't lie to Malaysians. When we've made a promise, we will fulfil them. Our religion demands it," he told a press conference after a visit to Bemban, Malacca, to observe PN's campaign operations.

To this end, Muhyiddin said an oversight committee may be formed to ensure that PN delivers on its promises if it wins in the Malacca polls.

"We will present our manifesto which is ready and prove our commitment," he said.

Muhyiddin reiterated PN's anti-corruption commitments

"This was the principle of the PN (federal) government when I led it and I want to replicate that for Malacca to advance with a government that is transparent, caring, rejects the abuse of power and fights corruption," he said.

On PN's course of action, if there is a hung state assembly, Muhyiddin said he did not want to speculate and left it to the wisdom of Malaccans.

Muhyiddin in his press conference also continued to lament the blanket ban on physical campaigning, adding that he had spoken to Health Ministry Khairy Jamaluddin on the matter.

Muhyiddin, who is also the chairperson of the Covid-19 National Recovery Council, acknowledged Khairy concerns.

He also noted that the increase of the R-naught value or infectivity rate to 1.0 yesterday was a worrying signal.

However, he said that the standard operating procedures (SOP) against Covid-19 should not be to an extent that it stifles democracy.

"The thing is social activities are allowed yet political activities are not. Covid-19 does not choose between social and political events.

"It won't choose to infect one but not the other," he said.

What is important, he said, was for everyone to abide by the SOP.

He also revealed that one of PN's election operations centres had been hit by Covid-19 and it was immediately closed and had sanitisation works conducted.

"We will abide by them. If there is an incident, we will act, but the government should not restrict to an extent that there is no democracy. I don't think that is the government's intent," he said.

Campaigning for the Malacca polls started on Nov 8. Malaccans will decide on Nov 20. - Mkini