KUALA LUMPUR – Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said the opposition is still open to extending the memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the government, despite Umno’s insistence that it would expire on July 31 this year.
The PKR president said this is because it was uncertain whether Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob would call for snap polls immediately after that date.
He also said the opposition is able to hold negotiations on the possible extension if the government agrees to do so.
Regardless, Anwar said the opposition will ensure the agreement applies until the end of July.
“This depends on the stance of the parties from the government and opposition. What are our priorities?” Anwar asked during a special interview with The Vibes, MalaysiaKini, and Sinar Harian at his office in Bukit Gasing, here, this afternoon.
“But if there is a general election, Umno is arrogant in thinking it can win all (states) after (their performance) in Melaka and Johor.”
Anwar, who is Port Dickson MP, said the issues involving the people, such as the rising costs of living and unemployment should be Umno’s main focus, instead of the MoU.
Last week, Umno announced that it is affirming its stance to cease cooperation with the opposition beyond July 31, as decided during the party’s general assembly recently.
On Saturday, DAP’s newly minted secretary-general Anthony Loke said the agreement is between the government and Pakatan Harapan (PH), and not with Umno’s top brass.
Loke said any decision and issue on the MoU must be discussed between the prime minister on behalf of the ruling parties and PH leadership.
Yesterday, PKR communications chief Fahmi Fadzil insisted the agreement does not expire until the dissolution of Parliament, and not on July 31 as claimed by Umno.
Fahmi, who is Lembah Pantai MP, said many assume the agreement and the general election are intertwined, leading to “confusion” that the MoU will lapse on July 31.
Earlier on Friday, Ismail Sabri said he will respect the Umno Supreme Council’s decision to end the MoU by the given date.
For the record, the MoU signed on September 13 last year made no mention of any “expiry” date, but clause 3.1 of the document says the government “agrees not to table the dissolution of Parliament” before July 31, 2022.
Meanwhile, Anwar conceded that the MoU was a stop-gap measure to help save the country during the Covid-19 pandemic.
“I don’t believe that this (MoU debate) is important for PH because we respect the Yang di-Pertuan Agong’s decree on the need for cooperation between the government and opposition without taking into account who is the prime minister,” he said.
“From that deduction, we outlined several issues according to priorities including efforts to address Covid-19, poverty, and parliamentary reforms.
“I can’t say I am fully satisfied (with the progress), but we cannot deny its successes based on the Agong’s instruction.” – The Vibes, April 18, 2022
