Hisham waking up to become more prime-ministerial?

Curious Hisham now touching on Covid-19 policy amid PM talks - PKR MP

Hang Tuah Jaya MP Shamsul Iskandar Mohd Akin said it was curious that Foreign Minister Hishammuddin Hussein was now getting into discussions about the country’s Covid-19 policy.

The PKR lawmaker noted this amid talks of a push for Hishammuddin to replace Muhyiddin Yassin as the prime minister. Hishammuddin had dismissed such talks as “rumours”.

“I find it curious that prior to this, Hishammuddin had not commented on issues unrelated to his portfolio as the foreign minister but since talks emerged that he was a prime ministerial candidate to replace Muhyiddin, we are now hearing his views about the Covid-19 pandemic management,” Shamsul said in a statement.

Hishammuddin had said that the country appeared to have “lost the delicate balance” between lives and livelihood. He also said the standard operating procedures (SOP) needed to be consistent while the people also expected a faster rate of vaccination.

However, Shamsul said many of the arguments have already been previously raised and was more intrigued at Hishammuddin’s timing.

Hishammuddin was the second minister to publicly criticise his own government’s management of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Last week, Special Functions Minister Mohd Redzuan Md Yusof also aired his unhappiness at the government’s management of the Covid-19 pandemic.

These developments came as the Yang di-Pertuan Agong was interviewing the country’s top political leaders and the coming Conference of Rulers meeting on Wednesday to decide on the emergency which expires in August.

The emergency, which came into force in January, had neutralised worries about the Perikatan Nasional government's stability despite its fragile majority as Parliament was suspended. However, that could end in August.

Shamsul, who is also the PKR information chief, said Hishammuddin should press the prime minister to reconvene Parliament.

“As someone who loves the country and democracy, I am confident that Hishammuddin, who is speculated to be a prime minister in waiting, would share the same spirit.

“Therefore, I hope he too can play his role in pressuring Muhyiddin to end the emergency and immediately restore democracy by reconvening Parliament,” he said.