KOTA BARU: The opposition should not urge Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin to step down while the Covid-19 pandemic is still a threat to the nation.
Pas vice president and Kelantan Deputy Menteri Besar, Datuk Mohd Amar Nik Abdullah said now is not the right time to push the PM to hold a general election as Malaysia is still battling the pandemic.
"Calling the PM to step down or urging the government to hold a general election is not the right thing to do with the coronavirus outbreak still present in our country.
"It is not that PM does not want to call for GE and he had, on several occasions, voiced out the desire for the mandate to be renewed by the people. However, the problem is that it (general-election) could not be done during the pandemic period," he said.
Speaking to New Straits Times, Amar said it is better to allow Muhyiddin as well as the government to discharge their duties.
"It is not that the government is trying to avoid (holding a general election) but the government wants to ensure the country, as well as its people are secure.
"If possible, let the government's finish ensuring 80 per cent of the population received the vaccine jabs," he added.
The Panchor Pas assemblyman said the government was trying to avoid a repeat of the Sabah polls which saw a surge in the infection and suffering of the people.
The Pakatan Harapan presidential council recently urged Muhyiddin to "honourably step down", claiming that he had lost support and legitimacy as the Prime Minister.
In a statement signed by PKR president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, Parti Amanah Negara president Mohamad Sabu and DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng, the trio pointed out that when the leader of the largest political party supporting the government announced its decision to pull its backing, Muhyiddin lost the support of the party and majority members of parliament.
Amar said the focus must be on saving lives and the economy in the wake of the worsening Covid-19 crisis, rather than continuing the politicking for positions and gains.