RAFIZI: FOCUS ON FULFILLING PROMISES, NOT ON ATTACKING BN
If you must criticise, spend 20pc of your time on it, the rest on delivering on plans, says PKR veep
PKR vice-president Rafizi Ramli has advised ministers and Pakatan Harapan lawmakers to stop placing too much focus on attacking and exposing alleged transgressions of the Barisan Nasional government.
He said they should do more to fulfil the promises in PH’s 14th General Election (GE14) manifesto or risk losing support from the people.
“I understand that ministers and PH backbenchers in the Dewan Rakyat are annoyed with the attitude of BN lawmakers who act as if they are innocent and have nothing to do with the problems left by their government,” he told the New Straits Times.
“And that leads to criticisms, quips, sarcastic remarks, attacks and various kinds of exposé.
“If you want to criticise, let it take up only 20 per cent (of your time). The remaining 80 per cent should be focused on executing plans (for the people).
“I am sure the people understand that many of the previous government’s legacies have to be resolved by the current government, and we need to give them time to do so.
“But, if the people view the government as doing nothing else but focusing on exposing and attacking the opposition, then the people’s patience will wear out.”
The former Pandan member of parliament, who is contesting the PKR deputy president’s post, said he had voiced his concerns to the party leadership, adding that the government should focus on matters such as reducing fuel prices and strengthening the economy.
“Let the opposition carry out its job. We need a good opposition to criticise and evaluate the government’s performance.”
He said his criticism might meet with disapproval, but it was done in hope that such a culture, nurtured by the previous government, would not persist.
He said BN had been too engrossed in jostling for positions and had neglected its responsibility to serve the people.
He urged MPs to refrain from mocking opposition members during Dewan Rakyat debates and referred to the antics of Jelutong MP R.S.N. Rayer as an example.
“I disapprove of the actions of the Jelutong lawmaker, who tends to mock and repeatedly link (former prime minister Datuk Seri) Najib (Razak) with 1MDB (1Malaysia Development Bhd).
“I think enough is enough. Najib has already been charged in court. BN has already been punished in its defeat at the polls.
“Not all of the BN leadership were involved in the issue of 1MDB. These BN MPs were not in the cabinet and, of course, they were not involved (with 1MDB). They had already been punished when BN lost the election. Just give them space to be a good opposition.”