Friday 29 Mar 2024
By
main news image

KUALA LUMPUR (July 28): Bangi Member of Parliament (MP) Dr Ong Kian Ming has called for a six- to 12-month political ceasefire between the government and the opposition, dubbed "Covid Moratorium Agreement", to focus on working together to get the country out of the Covid-19 pandemic. 

During his speech at the Parliament today, Ong urged all of the MPs to put aside their differences and impart the spirit of bipartisanship in the effort to contain the coronavirus and heal the economy. 

"I appeal to all the MPs, we need to have a plan that is different from the one taken before because extraordinary times call for extraordinary leadership by all of us here. 

"So my suggestion is why not have a 'covid moratorium agreement' where we can all stand shoulder to shoulder working together as frontliners to control Covid and to revive the economy. This is where all of the leaders here can give their suggestions and have a discussion so that we can show the Rakyat that we have a direction to get out of this Covid pandemic by working together," he said. 

Ong, who is also the former deputy minister of international trade and industry (MITI), also pointed out what he claimed to be an "open secret" in the parliament, that prime minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin no longer commanded majority support from MPs in the Dewan Rakyat. 

"It is not tested yet but I think that is a fact that everyone knows, including the other side over there (pointing to the government bench)," he said. 

He went on to say that he understood that there are a lot of MPs who are now frustrated with Muhyiddin due to his poor crisis leadership, and highlighted that if given the chance, opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim could carry out the duties of a prime minister more decisively and better than Muhyiddin. 

"I know now it is difficult to work together now because the parties from this side, including me, have a feeling of being betrayed by the leaders over that side.

"But since there is such a severe crisis in Malaysia, this is the direction we should go," Ong added. 

For more Parliament stories, click here.

Edited ByJenny Ng
      Print
      Text Size
      Share