KUALA LUMPUR: Umno deputy president Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan has urged Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin to dissolve Parliament and pave the way for a general election to be held following the current political uncertainty.
He said the unstable political environment right now is the first that the country has experienced since independence.
"This situation has made it difficult for the government to get critical legislation approved, including tabling the Budget to help the country recover from the economic downturn.
"All efforts to help the economy recover, create jobs and drive competition will not take place without a stable government and a Parliament which is capable of playing its role as a check and balance authority.
"As such, the dissolution of Parliament must happen without any further delay. The country cannot continue to be dragged by uncertainty and the possibility of a change in government just a few months in.
"This is not something that is good for the country," he said in a statement today.
In tabling his suggestion, Mohamad asked Muhyiddin to follow the example set by Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong who dissolved the republic's parliament to enable general elections to be held on July 10. The decision, said Mohamad, was made to ensure that the ruling government has a good and trusted mandate.
Mohamad said a nation's progress, prosperity and competitiveness depends greatly on political stability, which will have an impact and influence many issues such as drawing investment, economic activity and social harmony.
"Only a government with a comfortable mandate and majority in Parliament can function well and focus on helping the country recover from the unprecedented challenges we now face.
"This country is a parliamentary democracy in which the real power lies with the people and no one else, much less blocs which are formed according to the whims and fancies of politicians.
"As such, return the power to the people and let them determine the way forward for the country."