Former Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin says that the opening of economic centres and reaching herd immunity has vindicated Perikatan Nasional as a failed government.

During an interview on Astro’s Agenda Awani, Muhyiddin admitted that the slogan ‘Kerajaan Gagal’ heavily pioneered the criticism of his administration.

However, the results seen today are evidence of the government’s success in addressing the Covid-19 pandemic.

The Pagoh Member of Parliament said, “(We have been) vindicated by what is happening today, because the process of recovery and overcoming big problems, not only in Malaysia, is known by the entire world. Looking at the present day, there is plenty of evidence on our success when it comes to the question of managing Covid-19.”

He defended the high infection rates as not severe cases. He claimed that most of the cases are in Categories 1,2, and 3 whereas the more serious case, Category 4 and 5, stood at about 2 per cent.

When it came to vaccines, Muhyiddin labelled it as ‘extraordinary’ as he instructed then-Health Minister, Khairy Jamaluddin to get the vaccines, even though prices for them were uncertain.

He said, “We did not even know the prices of the vaccines, but I said ’buy them’. Therefore, upon my instruction, I have ensured that the supply of vaccines is more than enough.”

The economy had to open eventually, losing RM 2.6 billion a day during the lockdowns made Bank Negara warn the government that the financial and banking system would crash in less than a month.

He added, “I did open up the sectors at the time and there were people who were angry, but it would be worse if we didn’t. We would lose billions, or a trillion.”

He believed that with almost all sectors opening up, it meant that there was an achievement in planning made during his time as Prime Minister.

“It is continued by the current government, which I see as a Perikatan Nasional government, as a large part of is similar to the last administration, with the exception of the prime minister. We have achieved great success, to me, it is proof that this was not a failed government. More than we expected.”

Muhyiddin Yassin was ousted as Prime Minister after losing confidence in Parliament.

He was also heavily criticised for mishandling the pandemic and implementing an unnecessary Emergency Ordinance. The ordinance that was supposed to lower cases had exponentiated Covid-19 cases to over 20,000.

-THE MALAYSIA VOICE