PUTRAJAYA, Aug 17 — Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin has made a pledge that even though he is no longer the prime minister, the tagline Kerajaan Prihatin (Caring Government) will stay with him and his friends from the previous Perikatan Government.
“The fact is I am no longer the prime minister, but I still care and will continue going to the ground (to meet the people)…because I know there are data showing that the poor in the country are increasing in number and this is very challenging,” he told senior media editors after announcing his resignation yesterday.
He said if looking at the performance assessment of the PN government, it did not fail but instead had done so well as admitted by many based on the efforts carried out in handling the COVID-19 pandemic.
“I think that my government has delivered…many people say we did. Managing COVID-19 was not easy. I think we have saved millions of lives. Yes, few thousands died and people will always look at that, but now they have also recognised that we have saved millions of lives and that we have done to the fullest,” he said.
Muhyiddin said he can now breathe a sigh of relief for having done what he should have done to help the people in facing the pandemic.
“Of course some may ask how I feel, whether I’m sad (about having to resign). To a certain extent, I think I could have done more if only I am still around as prime minister, I want to finish the whole thing till the very end to see what we have started would finish completely, though exhausted and tired or wary, I know my team and the civil servants had worked hard,” he said.
Muhyiddin also expressed hope that even without him and his Cabinet, the existing government officials would continue carrying out the task of helping the people to fight COVID-19 which has now shown some improvement.
“I have met with the senior civil servants, the armed forces, the police and the Attorney-General and discussed matters after I’m no longer the prime minister. They have promised to continue to help until the COVID-19 pandemic is over. I hope it will continue to be the focus and never be ignored.
“I feel responsible when I read about death and suicide cases. I don’t like that sort of thing to be put on my shoulder, but as the prime minister, I have to bear it,” he said.
He also hoped that the new government would continue the recovery process especially the existing recovery plan even though it would take some time.
Sources: BERNAMA
