THE loss of lives and livelihoods due to Covid-19 as well as the country’s desperate economic situation are what’s driving Pakatan Harapan to consider Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob’s offer of institutional reforms in exchange for support, said Lim Guan Eng.

In a statement, the DAP secretary-general said the economic situation has deteriorated with many businesses closing down and others in financial straits, underlining an urgent need for politicians on both sides of the divide to work together to bring the crisis under control.

“Covid-19 has hit every Malaysian hard regardless of race, religion or background. PH and DAP cannot just turn a blind eye to the people’s sufferings where a pregnant Malay lady with her five child dies from Covid-19 leaving her four young children without a mother.”

“A poor Chinese boy whose poverty-stricken family has struggled mightily to allow their only child to graduate from university only to lose him to Covid-19 or a healthy 34-year old Indian professional who suddenly died when his oxygen level dropped, could not breathe and cannot find an ICU bed in time when utilisation is more than 100% .”

“The people’s sufferings must take priority. Despite deep distrust of whether such promises of reforms will be delivered, Ismail’s proposals of reforms should be given consideration provided they possess a set timeline for their execution and are accompanied by reforms in the economy and public healthcare,” the former finance minister said.

Yesterday Malaysia reported a record 592 Covid-19 deaths, 360 of them in Selangor alone, pushing up the death toll to 20,419.

The previous highest daily death toll was on August 26, when 393 deaths were recorded. 

Of yesterday’s deaths, 88 were dead on arrival, with Kedah accounting for 33 of them.

Last night, the PH presidential council said it was inclined in principle to ink a memorandum of understanding with Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob for the sake of the people.

The council said the decision came after a meeting with government representatives yesterday to discuss cooperation between the two sides.

Lim said there must be a whole-of-society approach to reform politics, the economy and public healthcare.

The Bagan MP stressed it was also important to set aside political interests to reach a solution but admitted that would not be easy to do.

“But we should be bold to try to save not only our young but also the future of our young and to win the battle against Covid-19 and rescue the beleaguered economy.”