KUALA LUMPUR – Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob’s willingness to engage with the opposition is a step towards mature politics, including the idea of a confidence and supply agreement, but Pakatan Harapan will still maintain its role as the opposition, said Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
He said in Wednesday’s meeting with the Pakatan Harapan presidential council, Ismail Sabri had touched on matters the opposition could agree upon, such as the Covid-19 battle, for which the opposition believes new approaches are needed to resolve.
Anwar added that the opposition had pushed for a proposed RM42 billion allocation, which the prime minister acknowledged, but noted an agreement was needed between the government and opposition.
He also said the opposition will continue playing its role of scrutinising government allocations and spending to avoid leakages, which have occurred in the past.
“The government has a small majority, so there needs to be cooperation to ensure there are no concerns when it comes to amending laws and revoking emergencies and so on,” he said, adding that consensus in Parliament can be reached via confidence and supply agreements.
The opposition leader said many quarters had raised questions over PH’s meeting with Ismail Sabri, but they can rest assured that the opposition will function normally.
“I wish to explain that our role is still as the opposition,” he said in a video posted on his Facebook page.
“I am still leading the opposition in Parliament and outside in monitoring policies, providing suggestions and sharing views.”
However, Anwar, who is also PKR president, said the political map of the country must undergo changes and become more mature.
He added that since the country’s independence, the opposition has always been considered a nemesis of the government.
This is politics that is less mature, and raises frictions and personal animosity that never ends. This is why we are sanctioning narratives and new approaches that are more mature.”
Anwar said the people have a right to agree with the government or oppose it, or even be indifferent.
He added that the Wednesday meeting was urgently needed to lower the political temperature that had reached a boiling point.
Anwar said the meeting was also held in the spirit of the decree made by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong to resolve political conflicts.
“The reason why we met with the prime minister to hold more talks is because we know that the country is facing the Covid-19 pandemic that has yet to show an end in sight and approaches that are capable of easing the problems faced.”
He also said that the economy is still affected, not only in terms of figures in financial markets but also the daily lives of the people.
“So, if there is readiness from Ismail Sabri to have talks, what is the problem? Coincidentally, I must admit that the talks were under very good terms.”
Anwar also reiterated that there were no negotiations on government posts for the opposition during the meeting, which mostly covered Covid-19 and the economy.
“If agreements can be reached, we can assure that the government will be more stable.”
In adhering to the king’s decree to ensure more moderate and mature politics, Anwar said the nation’s leaders must do away with “spiteful politics filled with hatred”.
“(It should not) reach a point where people are dragged away from the use of government machinery, such as the police and MACC (Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission), unless they are truly guilty.” – The Vibes, August 27, 2021
