COMMENT | The pandemic-related, socio-economic and political crisis Malaysia is now facing is unprecedented.

To save lives, livelihoods and economy it is time for leaders of all political parties to come together to form a unity government which is inclusive and sustainable for the next few years.

Such a government will need to work on a set of national programmes that can benefit the rakyat and prioritise the revival of the economy whose downward trajectory is now certain should the nation's politicians continue to be divided and engaged in infighting.

The first step can be a National Financial and Budget Consultative Council to be set up to achieve a national consensus in the 2021 national budget that...