DAP hopes Ismail Sabri will work with opposition on reforms
KUALA LUMPUR: DAP deputy secretary-general Teresa Kok has expressed hope that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob would be willing to work with the opposition.
In a post on her Facebook page, Kok said working together could bring about reform, be it on policies, laws or various sectors in the country.
“This includes efforts to address the Covid-19 pandemic.
“He must show that he is a leader for all Malaysians, with mis- sions and visions,” she said, while extending her congratulations to Ismail Sabri on his appointment.
In a separate statement, DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng said Ismail Sabri shouldered a huge responsibility to correct failures in fighting the Covid-19 pandemic and bringing the economy back on track.
He said Ismail Sabri’s main task following his appointment was to unite all Malaysians to correct the failures and mistakes in fighting the Covid-19 pandemic.
“He must also help Malaysians to save jobs and businesses by pulling the economy out of the recession,” he said in a Facebook post.
Lim said Ismail Sabri should remember that he is the prime minister of all Malaysians.
“As such, he must serve and protect the interests of everyone regardless of race, religion or background,” he said.
Pakatan Harapan chairman Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim also made clear the opposition’s acceptance of the king’s appointment of Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob as the ninth prime minister.
“With great reverence, I, on behalf of the opposition, pay tribute to Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah’s appointment of Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob as prime minister,” he said yes- terday.
He said the bloc acknowledged that the decision was based on the constitution, parliamentary democracy and the constitutional monarchy that Malaysia practised.
He called on all leaders and supporters to accept the decision with a resolve to work harder during the next general election so that PH could reclaim the people’s mandate like in 2018.
“For the opposition, this is a challenge for us to persevere to face the 15th General Election.
“Let’s all pray and work to quickly end the Covid-19 and economic crises for the sake of the people.”
His statement did not touch on whether he would move to test Ismail Sabri’s support in Parliament.
Following Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin’s resignation as prime minister on Monday, all 220 members of parliament were asked to name a prime ministerial candidate via statutory declarations, which were later verified by the king via one-on-one audiences he had with the lawmakers.
Ismail Sabri, who is Bera MP, secured 114 nominations from members of parliament, giving him a sufficient majority to form a government.
Anwar was also a frontrunner in the race.
On Friday, Comptroller of the Royal Household Datuk Ahmad Fadil Shamsuddin said the king had appointed Ismail Sabri as prime minister in accordance with Article 40(2)(a) and Article 43(2)(a) of the Constitution.
The king had said while he would pick a candidate who had majority support, that confidence must be swiftly tested in Parliament.