KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 26 — Former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad today said he hopes that government lawmakers will stop unsavoury political actions against those who oppose them.

He said this in response to a decree by Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah that the nation’s leaders should stop politicking and focus on facing the Covid-19 pandemic.

“It is hoped that while opposition politicians respect the advice of His Majesty, government and government politicians will also stop political actions such as depriving politicians who do not support the government,” he said in a post on his personal blog.

Other political actions that were condemned by Dr Mahathir include: “stopping allocations of elected representatives who do not support the government, buying opposition party supporters to lower their standing, forcing elections to be held due to attempts to seize the government, rejecting the registration of political parties such as Pejuang, and various other political actions such as bribery in elections”.

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For the record, Pejuang is the latest political vehicle of Dr Mahathir, who formed it in August after he lost control of Bersatu — his previous party — to the hands of current Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.

Dr Mahathir, who is also Langkawi MP, said that Pejuang will remain obedient to the advice of the Agong, so that politics in Malaysia can become stable.

“Pejuang is willing to cooperate in the efforts of all parties to address the threat of the Covid-19 outbreak,” he said.

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Dr Mahathir also welcomed the decision of the Agong and the Malay rulers for not declaring a state of emergency in Malaysia as requested and presented by Muhyiddin.

“The people are certainly happy with the decision made by His Majesty the Yang di-Pertuan Agong,” he added.

Last Friday, Muhyiddin met with the Agong to request the implementation of a state of emergency in the country with regards to the Covid-19 pandemic.

However, after a meeting with the Malay Rulers yesterday, the Agong declined the request.

Many have speculated that Muhyiddin’s bid for emergency powers was politically motivated as his administration is currently under threat from Opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

Earlier this month, Anwar was granted an audience with the Agong, in which the former claimed to have gained the support of over 120 members of Parliament in order to form a new government.