THE instructions couldn’t have come from any higher-up authority. The king has decreed that politicians should put aside their differences and well, stop politicking. There’s a bigger enemy at the gates, if it had not already broken into the metaphorical “city walls” – the Covid-19 virus.

But barely 24 hours had passed since the palace issued the statement calling for a political ceasefire so that the government can focus on fighting the critical coronavirus pandemic, politicians are going back to scheming and plotting, reminiscent of how Nero played the fiddle while Rome burnt.

In fact, barely hours after the royal reminder, which also rejected the cabinet’s request to declare an emergency, ex-defence minister Mohamad Sabu called on the prime minister to resign. And then what, dear Mr Amanah president? Leave the country rudderless as we face an unprecedented public health and economic crises?

As if not to be outdone, the Barisan Nasional summoned an emergency meeting with all its federal lawmakers the following morning, thinking of whether it should withdraw its support for Perikatan Nasional and whether to force the prime minister to quit.

At night, the Umno Supreme Council met. According to media reports, the agenda was whether the party’s lawmakers should support Anwar Ibrahim’s bid to be the ninth prime minister.

Shouldn’t these people be at their constituencies checking out if their voters require any aid during such trying times?

How about going to the ground and inquire if anyone needs food baskets, have run out of masks or just dish out friendly reminders about adhering to Covid-19 SOP?

On Monday, the whole of Klang Valley waited with bated breath to hear if the CMCO which ends on October 27, would be extended. Alas, the announcement by senior minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob, who usually holds his daily presser around 4pm, only came around 6pm. Presumably, the Umno MP was held up by the BN meeting in PWTC.

The king has spoken. Which part of “stop with the politicking” do these people not understand? Many politicians posted “Daulat Tuanku!” on their social media, lauding the decision not to impose emergency. But totally ignore the part about no to politicking. Why follow only part of the royal decree? The decree is not a buffet where you take what you like.

Do they want to go back to the polls and see more death and misery? Do they even have a heart for the people who put them in office?

Whether you agree with the present government or not, now is not the time to play politics… and the people’s wellbeing and lives. Now is the time to focus on tackling the pandemic and the economy. Politics can wait! – October 28, 2020.

* Lucas Liu 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.