PAS leaders are confident of holding on to their voters despite public anger at the Perikatan Nasional (PN) government over its handling of the Covid-19 epidemic.

This is because the party supporters understand that no government in the world has managed to solve coronavirus problem, said a leader.

Kedah PAS committee member Mohd Hilmi Abdul Wahab said it is normal for a government to be criticised.

“That’s just the way it is… those who work will face criticism and those who don’t, won’t,” he said.

“There may be many critics but there are many more supporters. Our people understand… if we want to call this a failure, then the whole world has failed.

“So the government has not failed, it just has yet to succeed.”

Hilmi said the PN government led by Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin was the best available option, which was why it had PAS’ backing.

The Muhyiddin administration has come under heavy criticism for calling for a state of emergency in response to the pandemic.

Seven months of shutdown have brought no respite from the crisis, however, as new infections and deaths continue to soar and stretch the public healthcare system to breaking point.

The Health Ministry yesterday announced 17,045 more infections, bringing total cases to more than a million since the outbreak was first detected in Malaysia in January 2020.

Stable Malay-Muslim government

Deputy youth chief Ahmad Fadli Shaari said PAS continues to support PN to ensure a stable Malay-Muslim government capable of addressing the coronavirus crisis.

“If we are not with PN, then PN will be just like the previous Pakatan Harapan (PH) government. To us, PH’s politics and administration make it more dangerous than the Barisan Nasional government it replaced

“For now, PAS believes being with PN is best for the country and to maintain political dominance.

The Pasir Mas MP said the priority now is to ensure the success of the government’s Malay-Islam agenda.

The PN government was formed in March 2020 as a result of cooperation between Bersatu, PAS and Umno on the basis of a common Malay-Muslim agenda that was perceived to have been neglected by the PH administration.

The coalition has the support of parties in Sabah and Sarawak.

On July 7, Umno, however, announced its withdrawal of support for Muhyiddin and urged the prime minister to resign at once.

Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi gave seven reasons why the government had failed.

Fadli denied the government has failed. 

He said the government had given out the biggest aid package for the people in history.

“So we have to be fair in assessing the government’s performance,” he said.

Fadli said the jury was still out on the government’s performance.

“I think there is still room for us to improve and there is space for PAS to give our views to the government.

“The government also needs to be open to suggestions from the people, whether they be politicians or the general public who are affected by the pandemic,” he said.

Double standards

Fadli did not dismiss the public dissatisfaction and anger at the government’s preferential treatment of some parties who had breached Covid-19 standard operating procedures (SOP).

He agreed the government needs to be honest and transparent in the matter.

“People are questioning why there are double standards for the individuals in question; this is what the government needs to answer,” he said.

Several politicians were caught violating the Covid-19 SOP but were let off with a slap on the wrist.

Selangor PAS secretary Roslan Shahir Mohd Shahir said if the federal government is said to have failed in its handling of the Covid-19 epidemic, then the PH government in Selangor has also

Selangor has the highest number of Covid cases.

“Selangor has failed in its state administration,” he said.

Roslan is confident that public anger at the federal government would dissipate when 80% of the adult population in the country is vaccinated and herd immunity is achieved. 

“If the government can ensure that the 80% vaccination is achieved before the end of the year, the public anger will subside.

“Once herd immunity is achieved, the people will choose to remain with PN.” – July 26, 2021.