By NT
KOTA KINABALU: If what Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said on Tuesday about a consensus reached among the party leaders to “stop old conflicts” is anything to go by, a new unity government appears to be in the making for Malaysia.
The concept of what people seem to be calling a ‘unity government is not new, but it is not particularly well understood or fleshed out.
Many political observers opined that of late politicians and political parties prioritise politics too much until they forget about the country, which is facing economic and health problems.
They said that politics and party politics have to be set aside for the time being, especially the country is witnessing a sharp spike in Covid-19 cases, with daily reported cases are in the region of 20,000.
Following an audience with the Yang di-Pertuan Agong on Tuesday, Anwar, who is also Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) president was quoted as saying that “there is consensus among parties’ top leaders to form a new political landscape”.
“We are heading towards a new direction. It is not just an issue about appointing a new prime minister.
“More importantly as stressed by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong and the Deputy Agong, is to create a new form of politics that is more peaceful and harmonious,” Anwar was quoted as saying.
Political observers believed that this might likely the only way out of the political conundrum affecting the country.
“If politicians or political leaders can work together, the unity government can focus on containing the spread of Covid-19, and this is good for the people and the country,” they said.
Earlier, Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah met with leaders of the country’s political parties amid a search for a new prime minister.
Among the contenders to become Malaysia’s Next Prime Minister are Anwar, Warisan President Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal, Former Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob and Tan Sri Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah.
On Monday, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin resigned after only 17 months of being the country’s 8th Prime Minister.
Also resigned were 29 members of his Perikatan Nasional (PN) Cabinet.
The Pagoh MP presented his letter of resignation to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah during an audience with the King at Istana Negara .
Muhyiddin, who is also Bersatu president, was sworn in as Prime Minister on March 1 last year following the resignation of Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad on Feb 24.
