Mixed responses from Opposition over PM’s proposals

Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin. -AP filepic

PETALING JAYA: There were mixed responses from Opposition politicians on the overtures made by Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.

DAP’s Ong Kian Ming suggested that all political parties consider Muhyiddin’s proposals, noting that the reforms suggested would leave a lasting effect on Malaysian politics if passed.

“The Prime Minister has proposed a way forward with a number of institutional reforms that can leave a lasting impact on Malaysian politics if passed.

“I think that all political parties should sit down and discuss if these terms are acceptable or not, no?” the Bangi MP tweeted after the televised address by Muhyiddin.

Bandar Kuching MP Kelvin Yii Lee Wuen said Muhyiddin’s offer speaks of sincerity as a Prime Minister.

However, he said such an offer should have been extended to Opposition MPs earlier.

“Fact of the matter, this does not deal with the core issue which is the incompetency of their Cabinet. Fact is, they should have announced shrinking of his over-bloated Cabinet if it’s really about the people.

“While I am all for political stability, we cannot excuse or stabilise failures,” said the DAP MP.

PKR’s Subang MP Wong Chen said Opposition leaders would be meeting soon and a formal reply to Muhyiddin’s “offer” would be made.

“I will not be commenting on this matter until Pakatan Harapan issues a statement,” he briefly tweeted.

However, Tanjong Malim MP Chang Lih Kang said Muhyiddin had to resign after losing a majority support in the Parliament, as according to Article 43(4) of the Constitution.

But the PKR MP complimented the promises of reform made by Muhyiddin in his special address yesterday.

“I would like to thank him for his ideas on reforms. I think they are good and the new government can implement those reforms and should do more,” he added.

DAP’s Klang MP Charles Santiago questioned what the bipartisan support would exactly be for and what the results of such a support would be for the people.

“Muhyiddin has been in power for the last one-and-a-half years and for the past six months, he has been given blanket powers under a state of emergency.

“We now have a country in tatters, rising Covid-19 cases, an economy which has contracted by 2%, a rising unemployment rate and it does not take a rocket scientist to realise that Klang Valley hospitals have broken down as many continued to die in the wards.

“Do we give support to the same government who may use the same approach and the same management and expect different results?

“We have continuously been consulted by the Finance Minister for our views every year but nothing has ever come out of these discussions,” he said.

He also said it would be better for Muhyiddin to face the vote of confidence and if he fails to get the majority, to allow the King to call for a new political alignment to form a new government.

Muar MP Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman, who co-founded the yet-to-be-registered Malaysians United Democratic Alliance (Muda), said Muhyiddin appeared to be making various offers suddenly.

In a joint statement yesterday, Muda, Parti Warisan Sabah, Parti Sarawak Bersatu and Upko rejected Muhyiddin’s proposals.

In a statement, the Pakatan Harapan presidential council said it had decided to reject Muhyiddin’s offer, which should have been extended much earlier, and that focus should be on “saving” the rakyat.

“We are confident that we can come up with a better plan, especially to curb the Covid-19 pandemic, restore the economy and save the rakyat and their livelihood,” it said.