We have to find another way to resolve the current political crisis, says Dave Anthony.
People are calling for Parliament to convene to settle the question of which side has a simple majority. But this could end up in Parliament being dissolved for a snap general election.
Much as we would like closure to this ambiguous conundrum, it is a bad idea to call for a snap general election now. Fresh polls will require the mobilisation of great numbers of people from the canvasing period until the election.
Many nations are taking precautionary measures such as cancelling mass gatherings because of the coronavirus threat. We would be taking an enormous risk if we held a general election now.
In Iran the 11th round of parliamentary elections was held on 21 February. Two days earlier, the country reported its first two confirmed infections. As of 27 February, 26 people had died from the coronavirus, with the country reporting a total of 250 infections and 900 more suspected infections. All this happened so rapidly during and after the elections.
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Malaysia already has 29 coronavirus cases as of 1 March. Do we still want to risk exposing our people to the virus in an open election?
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
Agreed. But the political crooks don’t seem to care.