[UPDATED] Perikatan to support Ismail Sabri until end of term: Ronald Kiandee

KUALA LUMPUR – Perikatan Nasional (PN) will support Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob’s government until the end of the parliamentary term, coalition supreme council member Datuk Seri Ronald Kiandee said today.

Ronald, who is also Bersatu vice-president as well as agriculture and food industries minister, said that the stand was made to guarantee continuous political stability. 

“Even if the 15th general election (GE15) is called soon, his (Ismail Sabri’s) term is set to end next year,” Bernama reported him as saying to reporters after officiating an event in Serdang today.

“Until now, we have committed to supporting the government to ensure that the nation’s political stability will last until the end of the constitutionally determined period.” 

The current parliamentary term is until July 15, 2023, with the dissolution of Parliament subject to the prime minister’s discussion with the cabinet before bringing the matter to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.

Ronald’s statement follows Ismail Sabri’s remarks yesterday that Putrajaya is ready for snap polls if a certain party withdraws its support for the government. 

PN has lately been seen as making threats to withdraw its support over Ismail Sabri’s refusal to appoint a Bersatu deputy prime minister. This would lead to him losing majority support in Parliament. 

The agreement between PN and Ismail Sabri for a Bersatu deputy prime minister was made when the latter took office in exchange for PN’s support, but has not been fulfilled a year on.

Last Thursday, Ismail Sabri made an eleventh-hour decision to cancel a meeting with PN secretary-general Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin to discuss the matter.

Subsequently, a source from PN told The Vibes that the coalition is still open to holding talks with Ismail Sabri, claiming that their support depends on the latter’s justification for refusing Bersatu the number two post in government.

Another source disclosed that several Bersatu leaders are also against the idea of backing out from the government, with a number of party leaders currently assuming executive positions.

Ismail Sabri is also facing calls from within Umno not to accede to PN’s demands.

Umno veteran Datuk Seri Nazri Abdul Aziz said the prime minister ought to ignore intimidation tactics employed by Barisan Nasional’s rival parties. 

Bernama has also reported PAS vice-president Datuk Seri Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar, the Terengganu menteri besar, confirming support for Ismail Sabri.

He said that talk on PN mulling withdrawal of support for the government was merely the view of certain quarters.

The PAS-led state government was planning to implement more things together with the federal government, he said after the launch of the 2022 Terengganu-level National Month and Fly the Jalur Gemilang campaign at Wisma Darul Iman today. – The Vibes, August 7, 2022