C4 Center is appalled and disturbed by the political events that have been unfolding in the country over the last few days, causing the collapse of executive power by the Pakatan Harapan government.
It bears reminding that the Pakatan Harapan government came into power in the last general election on a platform of reforming this country, fighting against corruption and implementing the good governance agenda.
The hard-fought monumental victory has now crumbled before a betrayed rakyat that has been served with shocking developments by unimaginable treachery and a political power grab.
In this time of crisis, where the world is combating the coronavirus and when the Malaysian economy is on a downturn, it is disgusting to say the least that such politicians who serve key ministerial positions instead chose to pursue their selfish political ambitions, disregarding the consequences that could befall citizens, by further destabilising the country.
In the aftermath, RM43.4bn in market capitalisation has been wiped out from the Malaysian stock exchange and the Malaysian currency has depreciated sharply against the US dollar. As of 6pm on 24 February, the local currency had depreciated to RM4.2240/2270 against the greenback from last Friday’s close of RM4.1900/1940. The FBM benchmark index also sank below the 1,500-level, skidding to a low of 1,486.71 points – the lowest level since December 2011, as reported by the Edge Markets.
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In the event where the opposition is able to form the government, our entire work on good governance which is progressing well in this country will collapse and our nation will be back into the pre-2018 general election scenario of corrupt and authoritarian rule. The comeback of corrupt politicians would spell untold disasters.
We are particularly indignant that the various corruption cases that are already in court, or in the investigation stages could possibly be compromised, through judicial interference or cancelled due to political considerations.
As such, C4 Center stresses the following:
The onus is now on Dr Mahathir Mohamad to pull together the various PH component parties onto the negotiation table and conduct talks in forming the government, with allies that must state clearly their commitment to the reform agenda.
We strongly oppose and reject any attempts at forming a ‘back-door government’. Although no laws would be breached in forming such a government, it must be remembered that the people voted in the PH government on the basis of rejecting the previous corrupt regime. Therefore, any attempt by the previous regime and current opposition to form a government with corrupted crooks and to bypassing the voters is an act of treachery which must be opposed strongly and fiercely.
We strongly oppose and reject the inclusion of Umno into the government at all costs.
We urge PH MPs to place the interest of the people and this country above everything else.
We plead for the wisdom of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong to not allow the ambitions of traitorous politicians to destroy this country.
We plead for the Yang di-Pertuan Agong to protect democracy and let the voters choose their new government in the event PH is unable to reconfigure a new executive government.
C4 Center stands with all Malaysians in these troubled times and urges the people to strongly protest the attempted power grab and treachery by self-serving politicians, and trusts that everyone will play their part in protecting democratic principles and rise out of troubled waters.
25 February 2020
Cynthia Gabriel is founding director of the Center to Combat Corruption and Cronyism (C4 Center)
AGENDA RAKYAT - Lima perkara utama
- Tegakkan maruah serta kualiti kehidupan rakyat
- Galakkan pembangunan saksama, lestari serta tangani krisis alam sekitar
- Raikan kerencaman dan keterangkuman
- Selamatkan demokrasi dan angkatkan keluhuran undang-undang
- Lawan rasuah dan kronisme
