Criticism of Muhyiddin address based on half-truths, bias

Updated 5 years ago · Published on 7 Oct 2020 11:27AM · 4 Comments

I REFER to Abah fast becoming negligent father in The Malaysian Insight today.

The writer has resorted to straw-manning Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin by drawing on half-truths and his own political bias to put up half-baked arguments.

Like many other Malaysians, I too watched the prime minister’s televised address yesterday and there was nothing “humorous” when he mentioned about using the “cane” to keep the public in line as far as Covid-19 standard operating procedures (SOPs) are concerned.

In fact, the tone of the announcement was somewhat sombre, befitting the gravity of the occasion.

The writer needs to understand that the prime minister needs to be able to reach out to all strata of the society, not just the Bangsar Bubble.

This includes using analogies that are relatable and can help him reach out more effectively to the target audience.

It would be helpful if the writer can just remove his head, which is buried in the sand, and realise that the analogy resonates well with so many others who do not regularly have an overpriced cuppa at international coffee chain outlets in malls.

The writer also raised the question of the Sabah election being one of the reasons for the latest spike in Covid-19 numbers.

In case he forgets, the election was called after the former Warisan chief minister Mohd Shafie Apdal advised the Governor Juhar Mahiruddin to dissolve the state assembly.

Under the law, the Election Commission had no choice but to hold an election within 60 days because the law says so.

It was Shafie’s selfish interest in prolonging his political life that indirectly resulted in the loss of lives of others and the spike in Covid-19 cases.

Shafie could have just conceded the loss of confidence in the state assembly and gracefully handed over the reins to his successor.

That was what happened in Perak in 2009, in Johor, Malacca and Kedah earlier this year.

In any case, Shafie lost the chief minister’s post after the election, meaning to say he was no better off going through the rigours of election (and, in the process, aiding the spread of the deadly disease) than stepping down graciously back then.

How the writer had the temerity to blame Muhyiddin for Shafie’s selfish act is beyond comprehension.

As for his assertion that the National Security Council had relaxed Covid-19 restrictions just for the Sabah election, I would really wish to have whatever he is smoking.

I am not sure which media he was reading or whether it was a figment of his overactive imagination.

I have never come across any credible reports that quoted senior government officials to say that the SOPs would be relaxed for the polls.

On the contrary, there was a repeated reminder for Sabahans and election workers there to be mindful of the SOPs.

As for the so-called Minister Cluster, just one minister has contracted the virus so far.

Opposition leaders were also out and about campaigning in Sabah, with two state lawmakers – Shatiri Mansor (Kota Damansara) and Lim Yi Wei (Kampung Tunku) – testing positive.

The offices of the Lembah Pantai and Klang MPs were also closed after their staff were suspected to have contracted the virus.

So, it is untrue that politicians from the ruling government were spreading it. – October 7, 2020.

* Mohd Hidayat Samad 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

  • Opinion is like an arsehole. You always think the other guy's is stinky than yours

    Posted 5 years ago by YUSHRI ZAINUDIN · Reply

  • Sorry the election was called after Abah went through the backdoor to grab power at Federal government and consequently Musa was freed from his corruption charges and Musa then tried to enter Sabah State Government through the backdoor! So Abah should apply the titan to himself first then Musa!

    Posted 5 years ago by Loyal Malaysian · Reply

  • Elections were called because PN wanted to do an illegal power grab just like it did when it took control of the Federal Government. There was no immediate need for PN to have resorted to this power grab as it could have waited for the next GE or waited till the covid 19 situation had abated. But PN is all about greed and power and the welfare of the Rakyat is an unimportant matter. They figured they were invincible as far as covid was concerned and probably over-confident that they wont be infected. Even if they went campaigning the responsible thing for them to do was to impose quarantine orders on all those returning from Sabah knowing full well the high likelihood of the spread of the disease in Peninsula. But they could not be bothered and now we have 4 more dead including an infant. Is the PN government going to shift responsibility to the opposition when it is responsible for public health? What about Khairuddin and the Minister for religious affairs? Khairuddin broke quarantine and is yet to be charged. Double standards and speaking with a forked tongue is the standard SOP of this PN government. No doubt they and the minions including the writer of this article believe that that is the gold standard of honesty that Malaysians deserve.

    Posted 5 years ago by Michael Raj · Reply

  • Propaganda online by cybertroopers to spread disinformation and potray false info.

    The critics and cybertroopers asked MOHE to resign, while they conveniently did not ask S'gor MB to resign (broke quarantine, water woes), or ask Shafie to resign (Shafie still didnt get majority after
    dissolution). PH is in denial that rakyat and reps are no longer with them, specifically with DAP.

    Posted 5 years ago by Joe Harry · Reply