PRIME Minister Muhyiddin Yassin’s offer to work with the opposition has hit a brick wall as opposition lawmakers maintain he should just quit office. 

They said his offer to work with the opposition was a desperate ploy to stay in office and comes after losing the numbers in Parliament.

They said the Bersatu president also had trust issues with the opposition, singling out the incompetence of the Perikatan Nasional (PN) cabinet. 

Klang MP Charles Santiago said that Muhyiddin is desperate and that is why he is reaching out to the opposition. 

“His (Muhyiddin) announcement today seems that he doesn’t have the majority (support). 

“The prime minister is desperate. Out of desperation he is reaching out. It’s game over for him,” he told The Malaysian Insight. 

This evening, Muhyiddin outlined an offer to opposition MPs today to get bipartisan support to stay in power and steer the country out of the Covid-19 pandemic.

He said he will not resign but that his cabinet had agreed that negotiations will be held with leaders of parties “outside Perikatan Nasional” ahead of a confidence vote to test his majority in Parliament next month.

Santiago said that Muhyiddin was given a chance to govern, but pointed to the state of the pandemic now as testimony to his failure.  

“On whether this government should be given an extension – the answer is no. 

“If the opposition supports him, then we support his failures.”

Kepong MP Lim Lip Eng said he rejected all the government’s proposals. 

“I reject Muhyiddin’s carrot and stick approach because I do not trust him. I want him to resign now.”

Segambut MP Hannah Yeoh said her biggest problem with PN is the incompetency of their ministers that has led Malaysia to where we are today.  

“Today’s speech does not address that incompetency and changes nothing in helping Malaysia out of the current mess.”

Petaling Jaya MP Maria Chin Abdullah said if the government can’t do its job then it will have to go.

“If you (PN) can’t do the job. Then let others do it. It shows that they can’t manage (the country). 

“It is too late. I feel the government has failed us,” she said. 

Maria said it appeared that the government has lost control in the management of the pandemic.  

“I’m really angry to see people dying daily. I lost my nephew and this is getting personal.  

“You (Muhyiddin) put us in lockdowns, but there are no results. The health system has broken down,” she said.

Maria added that if Muhyiddin wanted to do the right thing, then he should follow the constitution and resign.  

“It is not the easiest thing to do. It is the right thing to do.” 

Batu MP P. Prabakaran said he will not be lured by Muhyiddin’s offers. 

“I would rather stay on as an opposition member and continue to fight for him to resign immediately, as he has agreed that he doesn’t have the numbers. 

“All these last minute sweet offers to the opposition is to save him and keep him in power, which must not happen.” 

He said that Muhyiddin must resign immediately and this should be his last speech before he resigns. – August 13, 2021.