At a press conference, its president Wilfred Madius Tangau said such an agreement would trigger a political ceasefire and allow the country to resolve issues caused by Covid-19.
Tangau, who is also the Tuaran MP, said the CSA could be a “democratic and sustainable solution” for the government as well as the opposition.
“Your government, a de facto minority government since Jan 12 (when the state of emergency was declared), hopes to cling on to power by avoiding any sudden passing of a no-confidence vote,” he told Muhyiddin.
“Your government fears the possibility that the speaker or one of the deputy speakers may act on their conscience and rightly allow such a vote, as the speaker of the Perak legislative assembly did last Dec 4.
“Upko understands the prime minister’s predicament. This CSA would allow the government to govern without the paranoia of being overthrown.
“The opposition can provide legislative oversight and policy inputs through an inclusive and mature policymaking process.”
Tangau said this ceasefire could even last until June 16, 2023, when Parliament would be automatically dissolved, so that Muhyiddin can focus all his energy on the pandemic and economy for the rest of the 14th Dewan Rakyat’s term.
“But this can only happen if the prime minister has the responsibility and leadership to call all of us. The ball is in his court. Right now, the fear seems to be a vote of no-confidence and that’s why Parliament is suspended.
“So, call all of us, let’s discuss the CSA and retract the suspension.
“We appeal for support from everybody, especially the prime minister. Stop playing with people’s livelihoods as they are suffering. The economy is suffering,” he said.
Tangau, a former Sabah deputy chief minister, said all these salient points will be extended through a letter to Muhyiddin and opposition representatives, including from Pakatan Harapan.
Upko deputy president Donald Peter Mojuntin and vice-president Ewon Benedick also took part in the online press conference.
Asked whether the opposition members would agree to his proposal, Tangau said: “As far as we are concerned, we believe that there is a need for a political ceasefire. Why? Because we want political stability, because we want to address the problems faced by the nation.”
On calls for a snap election, he said this was not what the people needed now.
“Let’s forget about elections and let’s allow Parliament to dissolve itself in 2023 as everything now is for the people. Do you think it will benefit the people to have an election now?
“Malaysians cannot become the laughing stock. Even our neighbours are asking us to lift the emergency.”
The Upko leaders also called for an independent special committee to meet and assess the necessity to prolong the emergency.
They said the committee should advise the King and the prime minister to lift the emergency so Parliament and the state assemblies could reconvene.