Stay focused on Covid battle, say PAS, GPS as political temperature heats up

PAS and the Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) coalition today said the focus now should be on handling the Covid-19 crisis in the country, as the political temperature appears set to rise following Umno’s decision to revoke support for Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin.

The two parties also welcomed the appointments of Umno’s Ismail Sabri Yaakob as deputy prime minister and Hishammuddin Hussein as senior minister.

In a statement, PAS deputy president Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man said the Islamist party had consistently urged the leaders and people alike to treat the pandemic as the country’s main focus.

“Full attention must be given to safeguarding lives and livelihoods,” he said, adding that help should be given without considering differences in religion or race.

In a surprise move yesterday, the Prime Minister’s Office announced that Ismail had been appointed as deputy prime minister while Hishammuddin had been made senior foreign affairs minister.

It said Hishammuddin would also take over the security cluster previously held by Ismail in addition to helping with the implementation of the National Recovery Plan.

GPS said the appointments were timely as the political situation in the country had been heated of late.

“It is also hoped that the appointments will return the attention of all to more important matters such as the welfare, well-being and security of the people in addition to the country’s economic recovery as we continue to struggle with the Covid-19 pandemic,” GPS secretary-general Alexander Nanta Linggi said.

“As leaders, we should be aware that the people are watching everything that happens, and most importantly, many do not agree with political games that could threaten the country’s stability at this time.”