Close ranks, save Malaysia, Wan Azizah tells lawmakers

Opposition leader Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail today pledged to take proactive measures to reach a consensus with other groups and individuals to reform the country's institutions and save it from a scandal-ridden leadership. The PKR president urged lawmakers from both sides of the political divide to close ranks and come together to save the country. "Given the never-ending scandals involving the leadership, I urge all parliamentarians regardless of party and political inclination to join us in our efforts to save Malaysia," she said in a statement today. She added that her jailed husband, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, had previously said that it was not enough to just change the prime minister, and that there was a need to reform the system which was rife with corruption. Dr Wan Azizah said she would meet leaders of Pakatan Harapan partners and other parties, NGOs as well as individuals to agree on a guide for a national consensus. Former deputy prime minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, who was suspended from Umno, last Friday, has said he would not appeal against the party's decision, and instead would continue to speak out for institutional reforms. "I will continue to speak up to uphold justice and to demand for holistic institutional reform," the former Umno deputy president said on his Facebook page. Muhyiddin had also raised concern over the country's credibility and image that were being tarnished by various allegations. He said Malaysians felt they were being squeezed by the rising costs of living and narrowing democratic space and freedom. Muhyiddin also urged Malaysians to set aside their racial, religious and ideological sentiments to establish a people's consensus to create a government with integrity. – March 1, 2016.]]>