SEREMBAN, Aug 10: The upcoming state elections will have a crucial role not only in the selection of state leaders but also in further strengthening a federal government that has been mandated to administer the country after a period of instability and uncertainty following the 15th General Election, said Member of Parliament for Damansara and DAP Deputy Chairman Gobind Singh Deo.
Constantly changing governments will only harm the country, he said, pointing out that there had been three different prime ministers in Malaysia within the last five years.
Gobind said changing the government so often with no time to get anything done, will only harm the country’s economy.
The instability will not bring confidence to foreigners wishing to invest in the country. If the country is constantly changing its government, giving rise to political instability, investors will look at other countries in the region to make their investments.
With such instability, the country will only lose its competitiveness and ultimately the people will lose out, he said during a ceramah in Seremban Jaya, where Pakatan Harapan (PH) candidate P. Gunasekaren will be facing PN candidate Lee Ban Fatt for the state seat.
With the call made by the Yang DiPertuan Agung following the results of the 15th General Election, for parties to work together – with no party having the majority – to bring stability to the country, the move was made by PH to join forces with UMNO, and parties from Sabah, Sarawak to form a stable government, Gobind said.
It was about putting the well being of the country as a priority.
Everyone accepted the selection of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to helm the government. He was the most suited and experienced and wanted to administer the country well and differently and also knew how to take the country forward.
Members from various parties, namely Barisan Nasional, Sabah and Sarawak formed the government and while the Opposition said the alliance will not last more than 3 months and that there would be infighting, the alliance has become stronger and it has been 8 months now, he said.
Now, accusations continue to be hurled at the Prime Minister. ”He is not working, they say. But we see him working every day. He works hard, he is on the field every day.”
He travels, holds dialogues, discussions in various parts of the country, and returns to have meetings in Putrajaya.
This is what the country needs, a hard working prime minister who is given a full, five-year term to carry out what he wants to do for the country, backed by a strong team in the Cabinet, Gobind said.
Gobind also questioned, the campaign cry of the Perikatan Nasional party, which has been claiming that it will change the federal government, if it wins in all the states.
How can this be? Winning at the state election, will not enable them to change the federal government, he said.
Appealing to the voters in Seremban Jaya to come out and vote this Saturday, Aug 12, he said this will ensure that both the state and federal government will continue to do well.
The country continues to attract investments, he said, adding that campaigning during the state elections should be about what the state government can do for the people, its plans and so on, and not about riding on non issues, and issuing untrue statements.
— WE