During Covid-19, govt must serve all


MALAYSIA is a democratic country based on the Westminster system. Barisan Nasional was toppled after 60 years by Pakatan Harapan in the 14th general election on May 9, 2018.

Malaysians voted for PH, which resulted in the electoral victory and a “New Malaysia” was created after May 9. Malaysians were looking forward to the PH-led government to work on institutional reforms, to create progressive laws and policies, to build a clean government to drive Malaysia from a developing to a developed nation, being a progressive Malaysia.

It is important to note that since Malaysia’s independence, it is the first time of change in government which resulted in Malaysians placing high hopes in the PH-led government.

Malaysians have placed higher hope in the new cabinet line-up of new faces, both ministers and deputy ministers.

While PH worked hard to tackle the issue in the area of transportation, health, multimedia, youth empowerment, sports, climate change, primary industries and others, it was jeopardised with politicians switching their support from a coalition they stood for in elections to a different coalition by collaborating with those party components voted out by the people.

The eighth prime minister was appointed on February 29, which surprised many. Suddenly, without an election being held, a new government was formed with some of the politicians changing their support to a different coalition.

Some of them chose to leave the PH coalition and work with those politicians who lost in GE14, forming a new coalition as Perikatan Nasional.

As stated by Jeane Kirkpatrick, scholar and former US ambassador to the United Nations: “Democratic elections are not merely symbolic… They are competitive, periodic, inclusive, definitive elections in which the chief decision-makers in a government are selected by citizens who enjoy broad freedom to criticise government, to publish their criticism and to present alternatives.”

Therefore, how could this government be legitimate when it was not elected by the people? With such an event taking place, many have questioned the purpose of an election if the government could fall to those who lost in the last election after two years.

With a new government, this undermine democracy and also resulted in votes which does not carry any weight in an election.

Despite the fact that there is no clear legislation in place to prevent politicians from switching their party and stance, however, the integrity and principles of the representative that the people voted for are reflected in such political crisis.

Integrity and principles are vital for those representing the people. This would be one of the failures of the PH government to set its priority straight when in power. It failed to enact legislation on party hopping.

It has been a few weeks since Malaysians are living under a new government who came into power without an election. Since then, we have to live with a “new government” without any manifesto. The question also arises how they can act in the best interest of the people when there is no manifesto to be fulfilled.

Anyhow, we now have to put our trust in this “new government” to combat Covid-19.

The interest of the people should always be at the top priority. The oversight of not inviting the heads of the state governments under PH in the special meeting with the prime minister is unacceptable. The government of the day should treat all Malaysians fair and equal, no one should be left behind, especially in this crucial time.

We have to come together to appreciate the effort of all of the medical staff who have sacrificed their lives to be at the front-line for all of us. It is now crucial for us to stand and work together as one to fight with Covid-19 by staying at home. – March 22, 2020.

* Teoh King Men reads The Malaysian Insight.

* This is the opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insight. Article may be edited for brevity and clarity.


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Comments


  • That's 3 minutes of my life I'll never get back.

    Posted 4 years ago by Ravind Valiapan · Reply

  • " ..... It failed to enact legislation on party hopping......"

    IMO, Tun must have disagreed. He sought to increase his and Bersatu's power through defections.

    It boomeranged in his and PH's face! Tun is UNTRUSTWORTHY!

    Penang state enacted the legislation!

    Posted 4 years ago by Malaysian First · Reply