Setting aside politics to fight Covid-19? Muhyiddin and Anwar meet

PETALING JAYA: Former allies Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin and Opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim had a 45-minute meeting at the Prime Minister’s Office in Putrajaya.

During the meeting, Muhyiddin raised issues concerning the Covid-19 pandemic and proposed commencing the upcoming Parliamentary session on May 18, said Anwar.

“I will hold further discussions with my friends in Pakatan Harapan and the Opposition, and I will state the views to him (Muhyiddin), ” Anwar said in a Facebook post on Tuesday (April 14).

The meeting took place right after a press conference by Anwar on Facebook Live earlier Tuesday where he assured that a vote of no confidence would not be tabled in the coming parliamentary session.

“For a normal sitting of Parliament, that is, of course, for MPs to decide. I made it very clear, the government should not use Covid-19 to say that it will be secure forever, ” Anwar was quoted as saying.

During the meeting with Muhyiddin, Anwar said the Prime Minister explained the government’s steps in addressing the Covid-19 outbreak, while he expressed appreciation for services provided by the government, NGOs and the society.

“I also pointed out that the dissemination of information must be transparent and the ability of screenings must be improved, ” he said.

Anwar said that Bantuan Prihatin Nasional (BPN), the government’s economic stimulus package to address the Covid-19 fallout, was well received.

“But the government must ensure the effectiveness of the delivery so it won’t be politicised at the grassroots level, ” he added.

The official meeting between Muhyiddin and Anwar is believed to be the first since the fall of the Pakatan government, following a week-long political crisis that saw the resignation of Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad as premier in February.

Pakatan leaders have repeatedly called for an emergency parliamentary session to approve the RM250bil BPN economic stimulus package aimed at cushioning the Covid-19 economic fallout.