KEADILAN and our Pakatan Harapan partners acceptance of the government’s Memorandum was driven by our concern for the rakyat particularly on the need for institutional reforms and overcoming the socio-economic fallout from the Covid-19 pandemic.
The government must now promptly and comprehensively undertake the reforms it has promised.
It must redouble its efforts to fight Covid-19 in an inclusive, science-drive fashion, revive the economy as well as the livelihoods of all impacted Malaysians and decisively abandon the failed policies of the past with a bigger economic intervention.
There must be no more excuses or delays given that the current administration has accepted the Memorandum as well.
Responsibility for its success or failure lies in the words and deeds of the Prime Minister and his government.
The Memorandum is by no means a free pass or a carte blanche for them to do what they like.
The Opposition will continue to remain vigilant in its role as a watchdog to the government and the guardian of the national interest.
For its part, KEADILAN and PH will continue to discharge our duty as an active Opposition. This is not a Unity Government. We cannot and will not hesitate to call out or vote in Parliament against any move that hurts the welfare of the rakyat.
For instance, we will closely scrutinise the upcoming 2022 Budget to ensure that it not only benefits the rakyat, but also that it implements the highest standards of good governance and transparency in all spending.
If the government wishes our support to pass the Budget, it must live up to the spirit of the Memorandum and comprehensively negotiate all aspects of it to the satisfaction of PH before tabling it in Parliament.
The negotiations must also be done with the maximum amount of transparency possible and also involve related stakeholders where appropriate.
The Memorandum is hence not an end or suspension of Malaysia’s democratic and political process but an act of patriotism for the national interest on the part of KEADILAN and PH.
This same spirit will drive us to ramp up our work as a check-and-balance to the government with the goal of ensuring the country’s recovery as well as the upliftment of the rakyat.
NIK NAZMI NIK AHMAD
CHIEF ORGANISING SECRETARY
PARTI KEADILAN RAKYAT