KUALA LUMPUR – Committed, approachable and calm. According to members of the public, these are traits that best describe Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob throughout his time in office.
As the one-year anniversary of his stewardship approaches, those interviewed said they have noted Ismail Sabri’s efforts at reform, one highlight being his most recent success at passing anti party-hopping laws.
For batik entrepreneur, Amad Taqiyuddin Zulkifli, 31, the prime minister’s concern was personally felt when Ismail Sabri ordered quick disbursal of aid to those affected by extreme floods.
“(The prime minister’s actions) touched the hearts of the people. Flood aid was not delayed as the government worked efficiently and it was evident that (Ismail Sabri) was committed to his role,” he told Getaran, The Vibes’ sister portal, today.
“I think that Ismail Sabri’s administration calmly carries out its strategies. It is also proactive in arranging actions so that the situation does not become more chaotic,” Amad added.
Asked about the “Keluarga Malaysia” (Malaysian Family) concept which Ismail Sabri has used to brand his government, Amad said the slogan has brought about a sense of unity among the multi-racial citizens of the country.
The government’s focus on emphasising harmony is one of the best ways to advance the country, especially after the challenges faced during the Covid-19 pandemic.
“The prime minister’s leadership during tough times, namely during the pandemic and post-pandemic phases, has proven his ability to manage the country,” he claimed.
“In one year of his governance, Malaysia was actively improved for the good of the country and its people. Ismail Sabri’s commitment remains evident until today.”
Nizam Abdullah, 48, expressed similar sentiments, calling Ismail Sabri a leader “who knows what he is doing”.
“So far, so good,” said the former private sector employee.
Nizam added that based on the prime minister’s social media posts, he is seen as being on the ground, checking on citizens from all walks of life.
“Recently, I saw that he was in Terengganu visiting a motorcycle group. I think this engagement is an example of him interacting with the community,” he said.
Nizam, who is currently unemployed, said he appreciated the government’s efforts in launching numerous programmes and aid which has allowed him to stay debt-free while he searches for work.
On a related note, local entrepreneur Erin Zamree, 34, said that the decision by Ismail Sabri’s government to channel various aid and set ceiling prices on basic goods has helped ease the people’s burden caused by rising living costs.
However, Erin stressed that other assistance initiatives should be enforced, especially for those in the B40 income group.
“Industries, such as the batik sector, also need help from the government as, after the pandemic, the cost of basic goods such as material prices has gone up.
“Most of the materials are sourced from local suppliers, and the demand is high, so they can set the price. We (entrepreneurs) are the ones that suffer,” she said.
Ismail Sabri was sworn in as prime minister on August 21 last year, replacing Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, who had lost majority support of parliamentarians.
An Umno vice-president, the Bera MP has managed to stay in power and maintain political stability at the same time, notably thanks to a memorandum of understanding he signed with Pakatan Harapan last year after becoming prime minister, enabling him to carry out certain reforms in exchange for the opposition coalition’s support. – The Vibes, August 20, 2022
