PUTTING aside its response to the Covid-19 outbreak, Perikatan Nasional has done little apart from giving out juicy positions to strengthen its political position, said former government adviser Daim Zainuddin.

At the same time, PN, which is made up of parties from the Barisan Nasional era, is going back to the old ways of silencing dissent.

Daim, who headed a government advisory council under Pakatan Harapan, said these are the key features of Muhyiddin Yassin’s administration so far.

Muhyiddin and PN came to power at an unprecedented and extraordinary time and it is difficult to compare their performance to previous administrations because past governments never had to deal with something like the Covid-19 pandemic, Daim said.

Unlike BN or PH, Muhyiddin and PN have to devote all of the government’s time and resources to one issue only – combating the pandemic and its socio-economic impact.

“During this calamity, the present government cannot be functioning in its normal run-of-the-mill manner,” Daim said in a recent interview.

‘The current health and economic crisis require the government to do far more under normal circumstances.

“The government cannot remain sclerotic. It had to hit the ground running soon after taking over. Now, they need to formulate crisis management plans for the economic, social, rural and communication sectors during and post-Covid-19.

“But so far, the government has done little apart from almost exclusively consolidating its political hold via handouts of positions.

“At the same time, the people feel that the old style of government using agencies to stop people from expressing their views and curtailing their freedom of expression are back.”

PN was formed when about 40 Bersatu and PKR lawmakers dumped PH and joined forces with BN, PAS and a clutch of Sabah and Sarawak parties.

Muhyiddin, who was home minister then, led those MPs out of PH on February 23, in what has been dubbed the “Sheraton move”, after the hotel where the parliamentarians gathered with their allies across the aisle.

Since taking over, PN has been criticised for giving out plum positions in government-linked companies and statutory bodies to its MPs.

The administration’s critics accuse it of using these positions to consolidate its razor-thin majority in the 222-seat Dewan Rakyat.

“People read these appointments as a means to win support and, therefore, conclude that (Muhyiddin) is not sure of his own support to begin with,” said Daim.

“He allowed people to interpret that he did not have the support and needed to resort to rewarding them. The recent audio of him trying to entice Umno MPs with GLC chairmanships also did not do him any favour.”

Daim said PH was also guilty of such practices but not as rampant and blatant as PN.

“To a very large extent, and to their credit, PH removed many politicians from various entities and managed to put capable professionals at GLCs. No listed entities had politicians as chairmen or CEOs.

“For politicians offered the posts they must ask themselves whether or not they are capable of performing and whether this offer is morally correct. Where is your conscience?

“This false sense of entitlement – believing that one deserves the position simply because one is a politician – must not be tolerated by any political party.

“The rakyat has every right to be upset. You have to put the most qualified people in the right positions, more so, when the company you are heading is entrusted in handling the rakyat’s money.

“Abusing that trust is the greatest sin and those who speak in the name of religion should advise their colleagues accordingly,” Daim added. – June 17, 2020.