Science will tell you, not the right time for GE, Khairy says

Science, Technology, and Innovation Minister Khairy Jamaluddin today panned calls for a vote of no confidence against the prime minister, saying the focus should be on managing the Covid-19 pandemic, not holding a general election.

“As the minister of science, I want to say clearly that having a general election right now, in the midst of a third wave of Covid-19 infections, is absolutely irresponsible, and if you ask me as a politician, my answer is listen to the science,” he said in an interview on BFM today.

Khairy, who has been spearheading Malaysia’s quest for a vaccine for the virus which has so far claimed 170 lives, also said the country was currently locked in a “life and death situation”.

“I am consumed almost 24/7 trying to secure (a) Covid-19 vaccine for Malaysians.

“Stop all this nonsense. If you have the numbers – and once the palace accepts audiences – then by all means, show your numbers and get on with it. But if you don’t have the numbers, then bugger off.”

His remarks followed the royal audience granted to Anwar Ibrahim on Tuesday, at which the PKR president said he had presented proof to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong of the support needed to topple Muhyiddin Yassin’s Perikatan Nasional government.

However, the palace later said that Anwar had not given the names of the MPs allegedly supporting him, only the total number.

In a statement issued by Ahmad Fadil Shamsuddin, Comptroller of the Royal Family and Household, it also said the king had advised Anwar to abide by the legal process in line with the constitution.