KUALA LUMPUR – Kuching MP and DAP ex-officio Dr Kelvin Yii has alluded that the government will continue to be open to criticism and eschew defending the “indefensible”.
Although explaining that there are certain matters out of the government’s control, he admitted that the administration must strive to regain the trust of “those frustrated and disappointed” with it, over “legitimate reasons”.
“The best way to do that is not merely to ‘react’ or pick petty fights with people that may not share the same opinion or stance as us,” he said in a thread of tweets.
“But rather, (to) channel the disappointment to work hard for the country, to find solutions, as well as try to bring good and reforms to show that we are a better government.”
Dr Yii, who is also the special adviser to the health minister, added that the government’s continuous emphasis will be on forming solutions, seeking a middle ground, and developing ways to rebuild the nation.
While being unsure whether the effort would be sufficient to counter public distrust, Dr Yii said the government owed it to the people to maintain its functionality and strength.
Dr Yii also underscored the importance of being constructive and productive as young leaders, and to avoid “picking fights” that would result in unnecessarily wasting resources vital for the nation’s development.
Dr Yii may be referring to the spat between fellow DAP member Tony Pua and Umno, after the former had sparked ire by making allegedly flippant remarks about the sentence reduction of ex-prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak.
Pua, a former Damansara MP, had been elated since the Pardons Board secretariat for the Federal Territories of Kuala Lumpur, Labuan, and Putrajaya announced Najib’s sentence reduction on Friday.
Subsequently, earlier yesterday, Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Razarudin Husain confirmed that Pua was being investigated under Section 4(1) of the Sedition Act 1948 and for misuse of network facilities under Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998.
Pua has been summoned to Bukit Aman at 1pm today to give his statement. – February 5, 2024