Work together to mitigate Covid-19 crisis, politicians told

KUALA LUMPUR: Parties from both sides of the political divide must put their differences aside and unite to curb the spread of Covid-19.

Only a non-partisan approach can boost the government’s efforts to check the disease and minimise its impact on the people and the nation, said political observers.

“No matter what their personal or party agenda is, now is the time to put it aside and focus on efforts to contain the crisis,” said Prof Dr Ahmad Martadha Mohamed, head of Governance and Integrity Cluster at the Centre of Government Studies, Universiti Utara Malaysia.

Speaking to Bernama, he said party leaders and politicians should help to disseminate accurate information to the people and appeal to them to comply with the Movement Control Order (MCO) and follow advisories issued by the authorities, as well as their recommendations, to mitigate their exposure to the virus.

“This is the time for our politicians, no matter which party they belong to, to show their maturity by setting aside their ideologies for the sake of the people and the nation,” he said.

He said Malaysian politicians could take a leaf out of the book of their counterparts in China, the United States, United Kingdom, Iran and some European nations who have joined forces to fight the pandemic.

Urging Malaysians to act responsibly and give their full cooperation to efforts to control the spread of Covid-19, Ahmad Martadha said although the nation is now going through an unprecedented crisis, the government has been able to handle it with its decisive yet prudent approach.

He said in the series of announcements made by Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin after the enforcement of MCO, he was seen as taking the gentle approach in advising the people.

“In social media, many people commented that in his second live address on March 18, the prime minister was like a father who is advising his children to stay home and take care of their health.

“We should appreciate the gentle and prudent ways of our leaders in dealing with this disease which has now become a global menace,” he said, adding that the strategies unrolled by the nation’s experienced leaders will prove effective in managing the challenging situation prevailing in the country.

Kolej Universiti Islam Antarabangsa Selangor senior lecturer Dr Hairol Anuar Mak Din, meanwhile, urged politicians to use their influence in positive ways, more so now when the nation is facing testing times.

He said some politicians had questioned the government’s decisions to enforce MCO, deploy the army to help the police monitor the people’s compliance with MCO and allow workers to withdraw part of their savings from the Employees Provident Fund (EPF). –