by FARA AISYAH / pic by TMR FILE

LEADERS from different political parties have expressed their desires to cooperate in combatting the Covid-19 pandemic following the King’s decree on Sunday.

Former Prime Minister (PM) Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad (picture) said the yet to be registered Parti Pejuang Tanah Air (Pejuang) welcomed the King’s decree to stop politicking, however, he said, the call is not limited to only Opposition leaders, but also to government lawmakers too.

He said this in response to a decree by Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah that the nation’s leaders should stop politicking and focus on facing the Covid-19 pandemic.

“Therefore, it is hoped that while Opposition politicians respect the advice of His Majesty, the government and its politicians will also stop political actions such as depriving politicians who do not support the government, stopping the allocation of elected representatives who do not support the government, buying Opposition party supporters to overthrow the government of the Opposition party, forcing elections to be held in an attempt to seize the government, rejecting the registration of political parties such as Pejuang and various other political actions such as bribery in elections,” he said in his latest blog entry yesterday.

“Pejuang will abide by Yang di-Pertuan Agong’s advice so that Malaysian politics become stable. Pejuang is willing to cooperate in the efforts of all parties to address the threat of the Covid-19,” Dr Mahathir added.

Sultan Abdullah had decreed that there is no need for an emergency proclamation to be declared nationwide or any parts of the country.

The King is of the view that the government has managed the Covid-19 pandemic, currently in its third wave in several parts of the country, well and effectively.

“As such, Sultan Abdullah believed that there is no requirement, at the time being, for the King to declare the state of emergency in the state, or any part of the nation,” said a statement released by the Palace on Sunday.

Meanwhile, Pahang Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail said all parties must abide by the King’s decision, particularly His Majesty’s recommendation to stop politicking that could threaten the stability of the country’s government.

“What is important is the cooperation by all Malaysians in curbing the Covid-19 pandemic, which is believed to be specially focused on the tabling of Budget 2021.”

DAP Senator Liew Chin Tong said PM Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin should make Parliament the avenue for genuine cooperation, consultation and co-governing with the Opposition for the greater good of the nation in this time of Covid-19 crisis.

“To foster goodwill for bipartisanship, Muhyiddin should ask Home Minister Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin and Senior Minister Datuk Seri (Mohamed) Azmin Ali to resign to take responsibility for wrongly advising the King and also for creating the toxic political atmosphere that led to the Cabinet decision of pushing for emergency rule.

“With the departures of Hamzah and Azmin from the Cabinet, cooperation among the governing Perikatan Nasional coalition parties will improve and a friendlier milieu for a genuine bipartisan working relationship with the Opposition in time of Covid-19 crisis would be fostered,” he noted.

Parti Warisan Sabah president Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal said the collapse of the domestic economy can only be overcome if all leaders reject their respective political, religious and racial ideologies to unite in finding a solution for the country’s sake.

“The people have made sacrifices in these difficult times, so the time has come for all ministers and MPs to sacrifice by contributing to the efforts made in facing this very challenging period.

“Warisan also calls on the business community to come forward and work with the government to ensure that an absolute step can be taken for the common good,” he said in a statement yesterday.

The Semporna MP added that the business community was among the worst affected in the face of the Covid-19 pandemic and even had to bear high losses.