PH rejects Mahathir’s call for Mageran council

Opposition bloc Pakatan Harapan (PH) today rejected the proposal by former leader Dr Mahathir Mohamad for a council similar to the National Operations Council (Mageran) during the virus emergency.

In a statement signed by its top leaders, PKR president Anwar Ibrahim, Amanah president Mohamad Sabu and DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng, it said the suggestion was against PH’s stand that the emergency should end with immediate effect and Parliament be allowed to reconvene.

“The solutions to the people’s troubles related to Covid-19 and the economy as well as politics requires a functioning democracy, and the best place to hear the voice of the people and find such solutions is Parliament,” they said.

Yesterday, Mahathir said he had suggested a Mageran such as the one formed in the aftermath of the 1969 riots during his audience with the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.

He said this would be better than holding an election during the pandemic, adding that it would also empower opposition leaders to be part of the administration.

Mahathir said he had also offered to lead any Mageran if one is formed.

“Since I was there, I offered my services,” he added.

However, he said the idea was shot down by Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin.

The state of emergency, declared by Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah in January, suspended Parliament and state assembly sittings.

The move followed threats by several Umno politicians to revoke support for the Perikatan Nasional government led by Muhyiddin.