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LYRICS | It’s about them, not about you or the nation! Whatever they do is consolidate their power and stay in office, no matter what.
Yesterday, it was absolutely clear that the backdoor government would have fallen. They didn’t have the numbers and they were desperate to hold onto power.
The block vote following the Federal Territories budget debates positively confirmed this fact. In the block vote, the results were 110 in favor, seven against, 31 abstentions and 72 absent. Without the two ‘extraterrestrials’, the government vote would have been only 108, while the opposition would have the support of 110 deputies (7 + 31 + 72 = 110). The backdoor government would surely have fallen!
In desperation, the backdoor government resorted to this risk tactic, ignoring the health and safety of parliamentarians to save its skin. The government brought home quarantined deputies to Parliament to secure their votes and remain in power. This was done for selfish reasons.
One might wonder, what was the motive for exposing Parliament to the risk of contamination by bringing in MPs who were under home quarantine? Dressed in personal protective equipment (PPE), they looked like ‘aliens’ from outer space! Did they properly identify themselves as who they were said to be?
When our frontline medical care is so overloaded and in dire need of whatever help is available and possible, it is inexcusable that an ambulance would have to be salvaged to bring these Members of Parliament just to vote. It was not a matter of life and death for the nation to demand that these deputies be present in Parliament yesterday, but it was definitely a matter of life and death for the government.
As such, the rules could be bent, sacrifices could be made at the risk of public health, and an ambulance could be saved.
The ambulance drivers in this case did not fulfill their duty of running to a house where a person has had a heart attack or to a place where a person had suffered serious injuries, but their services were necessary to transport three deputies because there was a coalition politics on the brink of collapse. What a shame!
According to a Called report, “the parliamentarians were taken in an ambulance and upon arrival at Parliament were placed in a special room.” Strangely and suddenly, there was additional space for these three MPs, but there was no space for online journalists to cover Parliament proceedings!
Why waste PPE on these folks when it’s sorely needed by leaders who risk their lives caring for Covid-19 patients?
This is not a solidarity government; it is not a government for the welfare of the people. It is a government that takes care of the politicians who are on its side and who only support its survival.
In this dire circumstance, the irresponsible actions of the government cannot be justified and must be fully condemned for what they did.
Malaysians would want this government to be defeated and ousted. Will it happen today during the final vote on its third reading?
The opinions expressed here are those of the author / contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of Malaysiakini.
