RAFIDAH Aziz today slammed the government, calling it a “lame duck” for its inability to tackle the Covid-19 pandemic and losing the trust of the people.

“My view is that PN is a lame duck. The trust of the people has gone. If we go for general elections today it will lose, as the people are affected (by the pandemic),” she said during an online forum in a Facebook Live session today.

The former international trade and industry minister said she believed that people from all sectors are needed to contribute to a national recovery council. 

“Do it for the nation. Don’t think of rewards. We need to have a direction for all sectors,” she said.

On Sunday, former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad, who proposed the council in June, said he would cap a council at 20 members, so that it can function quickly. 

He said it would comprise four politicians, five people for economic matters, six doctors, two legal experts and similarly three from the education sector.

Rafidah said the government cannot be counted on to set up the council.

“This resetting can’t be done until we do this, which is a drastic move. Let’s not be swayed. 

“We should just go ahead and just do it. With or without his (Muhyiddin’s) blessings.”

She said that Dr Mahathir should go ahead and set up the council as they will look for ways to run it. 

“We will find a way. Then we will come up with a proposal (to tackle pandemic) and present it to the government.” – August 3, 2021.