KUALA LUMPUR: The unity government is a creative step to make a giant leap which has resolved many difficult problems, says National University of Singapore’s Professor Wang Gungwu.

“The formation of the unity government helps restore stability so that the country is able to focus on economic revival and other new challenges,” said Prof Wang after receiving an honorary doctorate in philosophy from Universiti Malaya on Monday.

Like other countries in the world, Malaysia is not spared of economic challenges, he said.

“A country needs a strong government to resolve economic issues with clear policies. The formation of the unity government is important in moving forward,” he said.

A hung parliament after the 15th general election will see the country landed in a chaotic situation and unable to move on, said the history professor.

Prof Wang said the 14th and 15th general elections in Malaysia had brought many surprises while political leaders were tasked to look for solutions that they faced.

The Covid-19 pandemic was one of them which brought great challenges to the government where public health was concerned.

“Economic issues are currently the main topic in the entire world that many countries have to find ways to solve them,” he said.

Prof Wang also related his friendship with the late Dr. Tan Chee Khoon whom he helped form Gerakan Rakyat.

Born in Surabaya, Indonesia, Prof Wang spent his childhood days in Ipoh.

He started as a lecturer with the University of Malaya and was the head of the department of history from 1959 to 1968 before leaving Malaysia for research works overseas.

Prof Wang has been in Singapore for 26 years.

He stepped down as chairman of the East Asian Institute and professor of NUS in 2008.