A NEW year is here. Whether we like it or not, the government must address the uncertainty that surrounds our country’s future. 

The rise in Covid-19 cases in some countries is something to be wary of.

Recently, opposition leader Hamzah Zainuddin had an important message to share with the people.  Even though the government has been doing a fairly good job of handling recent tragedies, it must be said that the opposition’s “all hands-on deck” approach ensure high-quality and fair delivery of government services. 

It must be acknowledged that political differences have caused misunderstandings among our citizens. I believe it is time we put our differences aside to prepare for the uncertainties ahead.
The possibility of a worldwide economic downturn is something that we must keep in mind. Leading economists predict a recession. That is not good for any country, especially ours, which is a developing one.

When a country like Malaysia falls into recession, it is the poor who suffer the most. We have suffered enough in the past few years; have we learnt nothing?

We cannot afford to lose more lives – to the virus or to economic stress. The health of the citizens of Malaysia must be taken care of. We cannot let our people down again; we should learn from our mistakes as political leaders. 

Nevertheless, the effects of a downturn can always be mitigated by the government and even better, with the opposition working hand in hand with it to create political stability.

The opposition bloc has made its stance clear in terms of the ideology it holds as a political party. We are here to serve the people with the government. This means that we are not going to criticise the government for silly issues but instead give constructive criticism, ensuring that we are fit to lead the country should the government fail to do so. 

It is no longer about who deserves to be the government but who is more capable of leading the country to prosperity. Hamzah has stated that Perikatan Nasional has set up a monitor for each minister to ensure they do their work. If they aren’t, the media and the people will be the first to know about it.

Checks and balances are critical because someone must criticise the government if there are any wrongdoings, and that is our responsibility as the opposition. – January 10, 2023.

* Mahathir Mohd Rais is Perikatan Nasional Federal Territories information chief.