KOTA KINABALU: Political parties should accept the Prime Minister's olive branch on the need for stability and cooperation to help the country in these trying times.
Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) president Datuk Seri Dr Maximus Ongkili was responding to Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin's announcement yesterday to work hand-in-hand including with the opposition to put the country back on a firm footing on the road to health and economic recovery.
"Given the uncertain political scenario, whichever side one takes, this is a rare opportunity to work together and set aside political differences, living up to the 'rakyat first' slogan.
"The more urgent task is to win the battle against Covid-19, save lives and achieve economic recovery. It is not the time to quarrel and fight over who should be the Prime Minister," he said in a statement.
Ongkili, who is also the Minister in the Prime Minister's Department for Sabah and Sarawak Affairs, said while the selection of a new Prime Minister could be done via a general election, now was not the right time for it.
He added the people deserved better service from the government rather than being pushed to go to the polls right now.
"I call on my colleagues in the opposition to seize this opportunity to prioritise the country's needs for economic and political stability, and together, take this country forward as our commitment of solidarity."
During his address yesterday, Muhyiddin expressed willingness to work with parties outside of the Perikatan Nasional coalition following a scheduled vote of confidence in Parliament by Sept 7.
The Pagoh member of parliament (MP) also said that not a single Member of Parliament could prove they had the majority backing of Dewan Rakyat members to present themselves to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong to appoint them as the new prime minister.
However, four opposition parties rejected the olive branch approach made by the Prime Minister.
The parties -United Progressive Kinabalu Organisation (Upko), the Malaysian United Democratic Alliance (Muda), Parti Warisan Sabah (Warisan) and Parti Bersatu Sarawak (PSB)- also called on Muhyiddin to resign with dignity.
"We would like to emphasise once again that it is not the responsibility of Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin to ensure the existence of majority support for any Member of Parliament before resigning.
"We urge Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin to resign honourably and allow the democratic process to resume."
The statement was undersigned by Muda president Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman, Warisan president Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal, Upko president Datuk Seri Wilfred Madius Tangau and Parti Sarawak Bersatu (PSB) member Baru Bian.
The letter was also undersigned by seven Warisan MPs and PSB's Sri Aman MP Datuk Masir Kujat.
The leaders also questioned Muhyiddin's intention in making the offer now as the latter had rejected the opposition parties' proposals to stabilise the government through the "Confidence and Supply Agreement" since last year.
Pakatan Harapan has also squarely rejected Muhyiddin's offer.
In its presidential council statement signed by PKR president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng and Amanah president Mohamad Sabu, the coalition said Muhyiddin's plea proved that he had lost command of the parliamentary majority.
"This causes the execution of Article 43(4) of the Federal Constitution, in which he (Muhyiddin) has to resign. For the first time in the country's history, a prime minister has openly admitted his loss of majority and is subsequently insisting for the opposition's support," they said in a statement on Friday night.