DAP’s Charles Santiago said some have floated the idea of a confidence and supply agreement (CSA) that will see the present administration continue to run the country, subject to certain concessions.
“The time for that has come and gone. The country is in a dire situation today, the rakyat are in a dire situation. A CSA will not save us.
“We simply need a new team to take over, to manage the pandemic and the economy,” said Santiago.
He said the Perikatan Nasional-led (PN) government has had more than enough time to show what it could do to address Covid-19 and the economy, including during the six-month Emergency in which it had sweeping powers.
“In that time, the number of cases and deaths increased tremendously and investors were leaving. The situation with this government is beyond repair,” he said, adding a sense of hopelessness has gripped the nation.
“If we expect different results with the same management, we will just be digging a grave for this country.”
The Klang MP said he does not believe there is any appetite among the opposition to support Muhyiddin, with or without a CSA.
“Any opposition MP who is thinking about a CSA that would bail out this government – forget about it.
“The voters will not forgive anyone or any party that agrees to a CSA with Putrajaya.”
PKR’s Subang MP Wong Chen said any proposed CSA that would prop up the government was moot as the present administration had “lost its legitimacy”.
“Talk of a CSA now is illogical and wrong since we know the PM no longer enjoys majority support,” he said.
“Now, we have to go through the vote of confidence. After that, when the Budget is tabled in November, if the need arises then the opposition can explore a CSA with the government of the day. Then, it may not necessarily be the PN government in charge.”
He said no MP would want to see the Budget fail as it would hamper the civil service from carrying out its duties next year.
A vote of confidence in Muhyiddin is set to be held in September when the Dewan Rakyat reconvenes.
According to reports, 15 MPs from Umno have withdrawn support for Muhyiddin and his administration either through public or statutory declarations, leaving the governing coalition with only about 100 MPs in the 222-seat Dewan Rakyat.