The Sultan of Johor has expressed his disappointment at the ongoing power struggle in Malaysia's government, amidst the difficulties faced by the country's public stemming from the Covid-19 pandemic.
Leaders must be trustworthy
In a statement put up on Facebook on Aug. 10, he said:
"I am disappointed at leaders disturbing the government and jostling for power at a time when the rakyat (people) are depressed and facing numerous difficulties brought on by the ever-menacing Covid-19 pandemic."
In highlighting that August 10 was also the new year on the Islamic calendar, he called for the Muslim leaders to reflect on the lessons that they had been taught in Islam and added:
"All leaders must be honourable and trustworthy in discharging their duties, by prioritising the rakyat and the unity of the ummah, not your own selfish interests to the detriment of the nation’s harmony and political balance."
"Now is the time for you to jostle to help the rakyat, not the time to be jostling for power and influence," he reiterated.
Why is the Johor Sultan making such comments?
The sultan's comments comes amidst crumbling support for Malaysia Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin, with a vote of confidence scheduled to be held in September.
On August 3, UMNO leader Ahmad Zahid revealed that 11 Members of Parliament (MPs, including himself) had withdrawn their support for Muhyiddin's government.
He claimed that this showed that Muhyiddin had lost his majority, and called on the PM to resign.
However, on August 4, Muhyiddin claimed that he retained majority support of the MPs, contrary to the claims of UMNO's Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, in the wake of a meeting with the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Malaysia's king.
The Prime Minister added that some individuals were unhappy that he did not entertain their demands, which allegedly included intervening in court matters, so that certain individuals currently being prosecuted could be acquitted.
In addition, Muhyiddin has also come under fire from the public for his management of the Covid-19 pandemic.
A survey conducted by Institut Darul Ehsan, a government think tank based in Selangor, found that 85 per cent of respondents disapprove of Muhyiddin Yassin continuing as Malaysia's prime minister.
Muhyiddin recently announced that he will hold a vote of confidence at the next sitting of parliament, scheduled for September.
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Top image via Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar Facebook