KUALA LUMPUR – For all the criticisms levelled against Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob, Khairy Jamaluddin and Shahril Sufian Hamdan believe the former prime minister deserves credit for the work he did during the post-Covid-19 pandemic phase.
Specifically, they said the Bera MP should be recognised for playing a big part in the country’s economic and health recovery when he helmed the federal administration.
Speaking in the latest episode of the Keluar Sekejap podcast, Shahril claimed Ismail Sabri was not given due credit over his firm stance not to re-implement Covid-19 lockdowns, despite pressure then due to increasing cases.
This, Shahril noted, resulted in the economy growing stronger over time and reducing the unemployment rate to almost full employment.
“That is an achievement. Perhaps he wasn’t able to promote himself in terms of his branding, but the impact he has had on the economic recovery, that bore fruit.”
“If you ask what I admire about him, I would say his firmness to make an important decision at that time, because it would have been easy to play it safe and say that if cases increase, there will be further lockdowns.
“We all know what happened in the previous administration (under Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin). But when he (Ismail Sabri) entered, the economy began to improve bit by bit.”
He was responding to a question from the viewers on what it was like working under Ismail Sabri during his stint in Putrajaya, and what they admired the most about the former Umno vice-president.
Shahril had served as the economic director at the Prime Minister’s Office after being appointed in October 2021, less than two months after Ismail Sabri took office.
Khairy, who was the health minister under Ismail Sabri's administration, described his former boss as someone who was decisive and placed his full trust in his cabinet members.
He noted how at the time, he was among four ministers in the government’s Covid-19 Ministerial Quartet who were given the responsibility to decide on the country’s direction pertaining to the pandemic.
“Ismail Sabri had a objective, he said no more lockdowns and he wanted the country to come out of the pandemic in a certain period. I was forced to make many decisions on standard operating procedures, quarantines, vaccinations and others.
“He gave his full trust. I reported to him and he said if these (decisions) are based on facts and evidence, and if the Health Ministry feels this is appropriate, then go for it.
“He was not just firm, but also decisive and brave enough to place his trust in his ministers,” he said.
Shahril then said while Ismail Sabri may have the facial expression of someone who is gentle, he was firm most of the time.
Ismail Sabri became prime minister on August 21, 2021, replacing Muhyiddin after the Perikatan Nasional chairman lost majority support of the Dewan Rakyat.
The Umno man’s stint came to an end after he dissolved Parliament in October last year to pave way for a fresh election in November, making him Malaysia’s shortest-serving prime minister. – The Vibes, April 11, 2023
