[UPDATED] Stable govt can avoid turmoil, focus on economic recovery: Ismail Sabri

KUANTAN – Only a strong and stable government can prevent administrative turmoil and allow focus on key tasks like reviving the economy, said caretaker prime minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob. 

He said turmoil might occur if the government formed is not sufficiently strong, resulting in the prime minister or menteri besar having to focus on political issues instead of working for the public interest.

He cited the Barisan Nasional (BN)-led Pahang government under caretaker menteri besar Datuk Seri Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail as an example of a stable administration which had achieved many successes, including in generating more than RM1 billion in revenue. 

“In the early stages of my administration, we managed to make the political situation more stable but towards the end before I dissolved Parliament, the government was quite unstable. I was subjected to attacks not only from outside but also by presidents of parties in the government,” he said.

Ismail Sabri said this when speaking at the Keluarga Malaysia Feast in conjunction with the Pahang-level Aspirasi Keluarga Malaysia Tour at Dewan Jubli Perak Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah here today. Also present were Wan Rosdy and caretaker defence minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein.

Ismail Sabri said it was important for BN to win many seats in the coming general election so that it could govern on its own instead of depending on the support of other parties, like what happened previously when the coalition controlled only 42 parliamentary seats after the 2018 polls.

“When someone threatened to press the button (to withdraw support), in the spirit of Mat Kilau I pressed the button first and Parliament was dissolved on October 10. Our duty now is to form a new government capable of looking after the people’s interests.

“Although it was sad that we lost previously, it gave all Malaysians an opportunity to assess which government is better. Under the BN administration, many good things were done and the economy was stable, but when Pakatan Harapan ruled for 22 months the people could see its misdeeds and the destruction it caused,” he said.

Polling for the general election is on November 19, with nominations set for November 5, and early voting on November 15. – Bernama, October 29, 2022