The government’s failure to adhere to coronavirus prevention procedures while demanding adherence from the people has dented its credibility, Ronald Benjamin writes.
It is unfortunate that Kuala Lumpur, Selangor and Putrajaya have to go through a conditional movement control order, which took effect from 14 October 2020.
Many other countries failed to contain the coronavirus due to failure to detect it early, failure to comply to procedures or early opening up of the country after initial an lockdown – without understanding the impact and exponential characteristics of the coronavirus.
Malaysia, in contrast, had done all the right things in containing the coronavirus at the beginning, but ultimately succumbed to the weakness of power politics, resulting in the resurgence of Covid-19 infections.
The act of trying to create a backdoor government in Sabah, and in doing so triggering a state election, should have been avoided if the common good was the guiding principle of the Muhyiddin Yassin government.
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How could one honestly plot a power grab in Sabah when the pandemic was spreading fast in that state? What was important for Prime Minister Muhyiddin and Sabah Barisan Nasional politicians was consolidating their power at the expense of the people.
Merely ranting after the event and pinpointing certain officials for not following procedures is lame.
Unfortunately, opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim, who has a great ambition of becoming the prime minister, is also indulging in power politics when what is needed now is consensus to reign during this pandemic, which has created much damage to the economy.
What is worse is the failure of the elite within the Muhyiddin government to adhere to Covid-19 prevention procedures while demanding such adherence from the people. This has dented the credibility of the Perikatan Nasional government.
It is time for Muhyiddin to initiate a political ceasefire and reduces his unethical quest for the politics of power and begin a dialogue with the opposition on how to work together to rein in the spread of the pandemic.
The common good of the nation requires less of power politics. What we need is substantive consensus to move the nation forward to confront an existential threat. The service for the common good should be core principles that inspire political behaviour among politicians.
Unfortunately, unethical power politics seems to have contributed to the resurgence of the coronavirus pandemic in Malaysia.
Source: malaysiakini.com
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
Thank you, Ronald for giving Muhyddin a shelling.
Sadly , he is so unethical that his actions since the constitutional monarch rejected his attempted power grab have no hallmark of any remorse.
Is it the King’s own advice or otherwise with respect Budget 2021? We will never know but does it appear like Muhyddin is looking to work with the opposition.
If Budget 2021 is people centric I am sure the opposition will support.
Hmm…Umno may be a different question, as power is within their grasp.