[UPDATED] Pakatan will back Ismail Sabri if confidence vote held, says Anwar

PUTRAJAYA – Pakatan Harapan has indicated that it is willing to vote in favour of Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob should a motion of confidence for the newly appointed prime minister be tabled in Dewan Rakyat.

However, this is only if the current government can continue to share a cordial working relationship with the opposition in ensuring people-centric initiatives are delivered, said opposition leader and PKR president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim after meeting the prime minister today.

“We said if the (political) atmosphere remains like this, and pro-rakyat programmes can be delivered, we will not complicate matters,” he told reporters, when asked on PH’s stand on a confidence vote.

This followed a 90-minute meeting between Ismail Sabri and Anwar, as well as Amanah president Mohamad Sabu and DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng.

Anwar said the matter of him being given a ministerial post did not arise during the meeting, adding that the coalition leaders are not interested in any cabinet position.

“I am not interested. From the beginning, we (PH) have said we come here not to seek any position. Our issue is primarily focused on Covid-19 and the economy of the people.”

Ismail Sabri, who was sworn in as the ninth prime minister on Saturday, has yet to name his cabinet or deputy, with earlier speculations on the possibility of a unity government.

He has denied this, but did offer opposition leaders a place in the National Recovery Council and Special Committee to Manage Covid-19 during his maiden speech on Sunday.

Anwar said the appointment of any opposition MP into the council and committee was not discussed today.

He said the meeting is as a “good start” for the opposition to air its views in effectively addressing the health pandemic and proposing solutions to issues affecting the people.

Both parties also agreed to lower the political temperature, in return that the government focuses on the issues being raised by the coalition, he added.

“We have given our assurance that if programmes (focusing) on Covid-19 and the people are carried out, then we have no problem to guarantee that the situation will be under control.”

Anwar also joked with Ismail Sabri that Umno is now accepting cooperation from him and DAP – a stand that the Malay-based party had previously rejected.

“I thanked him because he represents Umno, and he held a discussion with me and DAP. So, I joked with him, saying that it appears the ‘No Anwar, No DAP’ stand has now changed following the royal decree for unity.”

The four politicians in a joint statement following the meeting confirmed their agreement to mutually reduce the political temperature in line with the decree by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.

“A joint agreement was reached to empower the function of Parliament as a more constructive and responsible institution in providing the necessary checks and balances against the executive for the sake of transparency and the people.

“We also agree and understand the importance of the judiciary independence, institutional reforms and good government practices to ensure a conducive environment for the people and country under the Keluarga Malaysia context.” – The Vibes, August 25, 2021