In an interview with online portal Malaysia Post, Zahid said Putrajaya needed to address current economic concerns and also how it plans to develop Malaysia once the pandemic is over.

“People need money in their pockets and food on the table. They want their livelihoods to be addressed. Yes, the whole world has been affected, but can we accept the fact that foreign investors have taken out their investment and gone to other countries in Southeast Asia?

“And the unemployment level, ‘thank God’, since the PN (took over), it has reached a high of 4.8%, a good achievement,” he remarked sarcastically.

Zahid also said he personally thought the emergency was unnecessary, adding that people’s perception that the emergency was for PN’s political survival was unavoidable.

He said there were already enough standard operating procedures to ensure Covid-19 could be curbed, particularly with the movement control order (MCO) in force.

“On this matter, I am loyal to the King’s decree and proclamation, as he was advised by the prime minister, and the prime minister obtained the mandate from the Cabinet.

“But the reality is that the people have to be looked after. Their problems must be prioritised. Without the people, we would not be in any government position, what more as a Cabinet member.”

He also lamented that the emergency prevented elected representatives voted in by the people from carrying the voice of voters in this difficult time.