19 parties to gather under one roof as Unity Govt National Convention to focus on the people and economy

SHAH ALAM - The inaugural Unity Government National Convention happening today will be the best grounds to end any attempt to undermine the country’s political stability thus ensuring the government’s focus and efforts on the people.

The convention, expected to gather 10,000 delegates from 19 political parties from the Unity Government, takes place during the much-heated rumours of certain groups intent of toppling the government.

Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia political science senior lecturer Dr Jamaie Hamil said the convention held at the Kuala Lumpur World Trade Centre was held at the right time to showcase the Unity Government with a strong leadership line-up not online to the people but also observers and foreign investors.

“Through this convention, those in the government can prove that efforts to topple the government are futile.

“The delegates need to show that those who used to be political enemies are able to commit to a cooperation, unity, tolerance and loyalty to each other in this convention,” he was quoted by Bernama.

The event will begin at 10am with the Women’s wing and Youth’s wing respectively at Dewan Merdeka and Dewan Tun Hussein Onn respectively.

This will be followed by “Bicara Rakyat” (Discussion with the People), which has been divided into three parts; empowering the people’s economy, building the nation and Malaysia Madani.

Themed “Madani, the Face of Malaysia’s Future”, highlight of the convention will be Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s mandate as the Unity Government Secretariat’s chairman and the witnessing and agreement of the Unity Government’s declaration at 3.30pm.

Jamaie said the declaration will fulfil people’s hope to see a clear documentation and commitment from the forming parties in outlining the direction of a stable and intact administration until the next General Election.

Unity Government’s head secretariat Datuk Dr Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki had reportedly said via the agreement, leaders from each party will be committed to solving the people’s issues that includes economy, nation building and implementation of the Madani concept.

Public policy expert Professor Dr Mohd Azizuddin Mohd Sani from Universiti Utama Malaysia said the opportunity should best be used by the country’s and party’s leadership to explain the government’s policy and eliminate any negative perception at all levels.

He said formation of the Unity Government was the result of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayutuddin Al Mustafa Billah Shah’s advice when the country was experiencing a hung Parliament, and many parties especially the grassroots needed time to adapt to the cooperation.

“Thus this convention for the first time would bring together everyone from the Unity Government, not just the top leadership, to one platform to explain the government’s direction in the best way,” he said.

Mohd Azizduddin said the convention, ahead of the state elections in six states, would certainly prepare the machinery and streamline the cooperation between the parties in Selangor, Negeri Sembilan, Penang, Kedah, Kelantan and Terengganu.

A new machinery called “Unity Gang” that involves all youth wings from the coalition parties will also be launched in conjunction with the convention to strengthen cooperation and organise movements during the state polls.

Previously, Anwar was quoted saying he was confident the Unity Government currently leading the country would remain until the next GE. “God willing, the Unity Government will remain until the next general election” when launching the 75th anniversary celebration of the Malaysian Red Crescent in Kuala Lumpur recently.

Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi from Umno, who is also the Barisan Nasional chairman and Umno president, said that the party will never get tired of offering complete solutions to the people’s problems including efforts to improve economic standards, eradication of extreme poverty and making Malaysia a competitive and developing state.

Meanwhile, Pakatan Harapan secretary-general Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail was quoted saying that the coalition will continue to strengthen the cooperation of various parties in the Unity Government and described the current administration as a result of successful stable coalition.