KUALA LUMPUR: Political parties on both sides of the divide must consider the plight of the people first as the country battles with the current Covid-19 pandemic.
Alliance for Safe Community chairman Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye said politicians tussling for power must take a back seat at this moment and time.
"There should be a proper time for everything, there is a proper time for politics in line with parliamentary democracy.
"Looking at the worsening health crisis, the people's needs and the economy should take priority and precedence over everything else.
"At the moment, let us focus our attention and efforts to support the Health Ministry to flatten the Covid-19 curve. Let them carry on and tackle the burgeoning pandemic problem without distractions," he said in a statement today.
He said politicians should also put their differences aside and concentrate on the commonalities.
"There is no time to lose. And no energy to spare. Let's put aside politics for the time being. So, let's put our ambitions on hold, till we overcome the pandemic.
"Isn't politics about finding the best solutions to the people's problems? So, let's put our differences aside and concentrate on our commonalities. And right now, the commonality is the need to rid ourselves of Covid-19.
"For everything else, let's wait till the next general election."
Lee said it was heartening to hear the Yang di-Pertuan Agong appeal to politicians not to plunge the nation into another round of political uncertainty.
"Earlier this year, when the nation faced a political crisis with the resignation of the then Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, there was a leadership vacuum and the King acted quickly to come to a solution.
"Now the nation is facing another crisis, and the King has shown that he is concerned for the rakyat. He has put the rakyat first, and politics on the backburner, rightly so," he said.
Meanwhile, Lee urged every Malaysian citizen and resident to strictly follow the standard operating procedures to protect themselves.
"Let's each ask ourselves, what can we do to keep us healthy and safe?
The answer to that question is simple. Follow all SOPs, wear masks, frequent hand washing, practice physical distancing and avoid crowded places.
"These are measures and steps that are within the scope of every citizen and every resident. The costs to ourselves in following these steps is nothing compared to the costs of not following these steps.
"In fact, the alternative is unthinkable. So, let's all together resolve to solve this looming problem."