KUALA LUMPUR – Politicians from both sides of the divide have lauded the prospect of bipartisan cooperation mooted by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob in combating Covid-19 and addressing the economic crisis.
The leaders signalled that Ismail Sabri’s move to extend an olive branch to his rivals will help cool the political temperature and is in line with the Yang di-Pertuan Agong’s decree on prioritising the people amid pandemic woes.
PKR communications chief Fahmi Fadzil told The Vibes yesterday that the meeting between Ismail Sabri and the Pakatan Harapan presidential council yesterday had set a good tone.
“It is clear that our focus on cooperation is really on battling the pandemic, strengthening the economy, and ensuring pro-rakyat programmes that truly benefit the people are realised.”
The Lembah Pantai MP said, apart from promulgating laws, he believes Parliament must play a bigger role to ensure checks and balances on the executive branch.
“Hence, with the meeting, I hope it can pave the way to enable Parliament to be more effective.”
Yesterday, PH leaders – PKR president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng and Amanah president Mohamad Sabu – indicated their willingness to not stand in the way of the confidence vote for Ismail Sabri when it is tabled in Dewan Rakyat next month.
The support comes under the condition that the current government continues sharing a cordial working relationship with the opposition in ensuring people-centric initiatives are delivered, Anwar said yesterday.
“We said if the (political) atmosphere remains like this, and pro-rakyat programmes can be delivered, we will not complicate matters,” he said when asked on PH’s stand on the confidence vote.
This followed a 90-minute meeting between Ismail Sabri and the PH leaders. Anwar also said the opposition coalition leaders were not interested in any cabinet positions.
Bersatu politician and former communications and multimedia minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Abdullah, who shared Ismail Sabri’s post on Facebook, also praised the prime minister.
“(It is) an early step that is important in heading towards new politics that is more mature, inclusive, bipartisan and reduces differences that are too adversarial/thorny,” he said in a brief post.
DAP’s Klang MP Charles Santiago said the collaboration makes sense as both sides of the political spectrum are almost equal in strength in terms of parliamentary seats.
“With the opposition having 105 seats and the government with 114, it’s not lopsided.
“However, cooperation must come with mutual respect. The opposition can be a constructive player in parliamentary decisions and it can be seen as an acknowledgement for the opposition, which can play an important role in things such as select committees.”
On the “No Anwar, No DAP” mantra often repeated by Umno leaders, Santiago said this is irrelevant in the current context as it refers to forming a government.
Nevertheless, he said the cooperation proposed by Ismail Sabri must carry substance and be a meaningful exercise.
“They (government) should not say ‘we will consult you on law changes’, but when it comes to deciding, you don’t do it.
“The fact that the prime minister met the opposition speaks well of him and shows he wants to have a dialogue and a relationship that can develop and grow.
“But he (Ismail Sabri) also knows the daggers are out for him, meaning that Bersatu might not be happy with him depending on who is made deputy prime minister. So, it is smart of him to have a meaningful engagement.”
Meanwhile, political observer Prof Mohd Azizuddin Mohd Sani of Universiti Utara Malaysia said Ismail Sabri’s olive branch is a good sign for the country, despite the opposition’s conditions.
“As long as the prime minister is prioritising the people’s agenda, PH will continue to support him. This effort will ease the political tension in Malaysia.”
On whether Umno will abandon its “No Anwar, No DAP” stance, Azizuddin said it is unclear for now.
“But with more collaboration between Umno and PH, perhaps Umno and PH can reconcile their differences. However, it is still too early to tell.”
Umno’s Datuk Abdul Rahman Dahlan, on his Facebook page, also congratulated the three opposition leaders and Ismail Sabri over the meeting.
“Maybe for some people, this is a small step but to me, it’s a huge leap in our search for a Malaysia that is more progressive and pragmatic.
“It is a step towards political maturity that is welcomed by the people at a time when the country is facing crisis upon crisis.”
Rahman thanked the leaders for giving new hope to the people in terms of mature and inclusive politics.
“This is not cooperation based on parties. This is cooperation to lower the political temperature in the country. We welcome it.” – The Vibes, August 26, 2021
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