KUALA LUMPUR – Opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has lauded Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob’s announcement yesterday pledging to implement a variety of institutional reforms but insists that the new prime minister’s leadership be tested with a confidence vote in Parliament.
“This is a great start following the meeting Pakatan Harapan (PH) leaders had with the prime minister on August 25.
“However, the discussion process still continues to find a consensus to tackle the Covid-19 pandemic, and to save lives and livelihood,” he said in a statement today.
Anwar, who is PH chairman and PKR president, said that the PH coalition proposes that RM45 billion be allocated immediately to lessen the burden of citizens during these trying times.
He added that PH believes there is still a need for a motion to be tabled in the Dewan Rakyat for a confidence vote on Ismail Sabri’s leadership as this is in line with the Yang di-Pertuan Agong’s decree.
“There is a need to hold a vote of confidence in the upcoming parliamentary session following the king’s decree to all party chiefs to legitimise the prime minister’s support in Parliament,” he said.
Yesterday, Ismail Sabri announced a slew of institutional reforms, including a limit on the prime minister to only serve a maximum of two terms.
The promises made were similar to those by his predecessor Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin who had offered these reforms to the opposition in return for bipartisan support just days before resigning.
The prime minister listed seven reforms as part of the transformation, namely:
- tabling an anti-hopping bill in Parliament;
- implementing Undi18 to lower the eligible voting age from 21 to 18 in the near future, and tabling relevant amendments to the federal constitution in Parliament;
- amending the constitution to limit the tenure of the prime minister to 10 years;
- ensuring balanced representation among government and opposition MPs in parliamentary special select committees;
- ensuring all bills to be presented in Parliament, including the federal Budget, are negotiated and agreed to by all parties;
- including opposition MPs in the National Recovery Council to obtain their views and recommendations; and,
- providing the opposition leader with remuneration and facilities enjoyed by ministers. – The Vibes, September 11, 2021
