FORMER prime minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin has expressed confidence that his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic will help him win votes for the Perikatan Nasional (PN) coalition in the forthcoming 15th general election (GE15).
In an interview with Nikkei Asia, the PN chairman, who was prime minister from March 2020 to August 2021, said he had done well in dealing with the unprecedented health crisis despite criticisms of prolonged lockdowns that some have blamed for a rise in unemployment and poverty rates.
“What I had done for the last two years in managing not just the COVID-19 pandemic, but the economy has had a positive impact towards the people,” the publication quoted Muhyiddin as saying.
Muhyiddin, who is also as chairman of National Recovery Council (MPN), stressed that he had no regrets over the decisions he took about lockdowns.
“People are unhappy when they are not allowed to move all the time, but when times like that (COVID-19) happen, this was the best solution we had,” he pointed out.
“It was not just Malaysia which was practicing it, but it was all over the world and matter of fact, China is still imposing it.”
PN comprises five parties, namely the Muhyiddin-led Bersatu, PAS, Gerakan, Borneo-based Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku (STAR) and the Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP). The coalition is contesting 171 federal seats in the upcoming national polls.
Almost all of Muhyiddin’s tenure as prime minister was focused on combating COVID-19. He announced the country’s first lockdown and border closures in March 2020, barely two weeks after being named for the top job.
From then until August 2021, he imposed various forms of movement restrictions, and only allowed the partial resumption of economic activities, paralysing small- and medium-sized industries and hurting growth.
His decisions were however justified later by the high number of COVID-19 cases that the country suffered during that period – up to 30,000 new cases per day – with public health care at full capacity.
He also sought emergency declarations from the King to implement several new law ordinances without going through Parliament.
However, according to news reports, critics had alleged that Muhyiddin had implemented those changes to protect his government from collapsing amid threats from UMNO to withdraw support for the government.
UMNO, the country’s largest and oldest political party, eventually pulled its support and forced Muhyiddin to resign on Aug 16, 2021. He was succeeded by UMNO vice-president and then deputy prime minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob.
Despite his less-than-stellar track record, Muhyiddin is confident about public support for PN, pointing out that “people have realized that what was done was for their benefit”.
“There is a chance that we would have enough numbers to form the government,” he added.
The ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition, of which UMNO is a coalition partner, is facing some pushback from voters concerned about its association with corrupt individuals, Muhyiddin further alleged.
There is also unease among critics that UMNO is pushing for an early federal election despite warnings that the country was about to be lashed by heavy monsoon rains that could cause floods and affect the ability of millions of Malaysians to vote.
“The waves against (BN) could turn stronger before (polling) day, and if it happens, there is a chance that we would have enough numbers to form the government,” said Muhyiddin.
A party or coalition must win a minimum of 112 seats (a simple majority) to form the next federal government. – Nov 11, 2022
Main pic credit: Reuters
