POLITICAL parties should focus on the economy and the Covid-19 pandemic fight, said the National Union of the Bank Employees (NUBE) as the Perikatan Nasional government faces a crucial budget vote today.

Its general-secretary, J. Solomon, said Muhyiddin Yassin’s position as prime minister should not be threatened as talk continues that the opposition has the numbers to topple his administration. 

“Muhyiddin and his government are taking all the necessary steps to recover from the pandemic. 

“As such, it is best that he should be given the space to carry out his national goals without any threat to his position,” he said in a statement today.

While NUBE concedes that no one party has the majority to form the government, Pakatan Harapan was given the opportunity and lasted only 22 months, said Solomon.

“Muhyiddin did not grab the prime ministership from Dr Mahathir Mohamad when he was the PM during the PH government. 

“He (Dr Mahathir) resigned on his own and no one is to be blamed except Dr Mahathir, with all due respect to him.”

Solomon said the need to embark on a no-confidence vote against Muhyiddin is only sensible if he has committed a serious misconduct or crime. 

“Otherwise, to move a vote of no confidence at this juncture will be purely seen as an attempt to take advantage of his slim support and also to satisfy the desires of others wanting to become a PM.”

Such action will anger the people as it will prove that the politicians are only interested in their positions.

“Where the powerful and greedy exploit the poor and the weak, and not care for the wellbeing of the entire rakyat who are struggling to survive through this pandemic crisis.

“We are already witnessing the irresponsible actions of the corporate who is executing power and greed to exploit workers.”

Solomon said NUBE wants economic and political stability in Malaysia now to enable the government under Muhyiddin to do its best for the people, ensuring all help announced in Budget 2021 reaches the targeted groups.

“The PM took office during the most challenging time of 2020, the Covid-19 pandemic and was confronted with the most serious socio-economic and health crisis of recent times.

“Yet, politicians began to undermine him from the time he took office, making it harder for him to focus.”

This is a wrong time to try and bring down any government, given the need for continuity in making policies to address contemporary issues and implementing them, he said.

“Among the major issues is the rising rate of unemployment that has been made worse by the push for digitalisation and automation in all sectors of the economy.

“Among the hardest hit will be the bank employees where owners are going full speed ahead with anti-union activities which result in more of them losing their jobs in this sector.

“In order to make things easier for the authorities to contain the fallout from Covid-19, NUBE is urging for a political ceasefire from all parties, including the ones in the ruling party as seen in the Perak move where PN coalition partner Umno was responsible for the leadership change.” – December 15, 2020.