PKR trains guns at Ismail as clock ticks for opposition to show majority

 

PKR launched a slew of criticisms against Ismail Sabri Yaakob as the Umno vice-president moves swiftly to try and build a new majority to sustain the Perikatan Nasional (PN) government.

Party's communications director Fahmi Fadzil (above) and information chief Shamsul Iskandar Mohd Akin, in separate statements, painted Ismail Sabri as being part of the same crop of PN leaders who had acted disloyally against the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.

This was in reference to the PN government's defiance against the ruler, including delaying the Parliament sitting and refusing to allow the emergency ordinances to be debated in Parliament, against the ruler's wishes.

Shamsul described the efforts to install Ismail Sabri as the new prime minister as "unsavoury".

"PKR is of the view that it would be harmful and sad for Malaysians if the same members of the current cabinet, which has clearly failed and cannot function, are given another chance to lead the country and perpetuate the destruction in the country," he said.

Meanwhile, Fahmi said the deputy premier is also responsible for the PN government's failed policies in curbing the Covid-19 pandemic.

"This included the half-cooked total lockdown, double standards in the standard operating procedures, the delay in vaccination which culminated in the high number of deaths.

"Therefore, supporting an MP like Ismail Sabri is only supporting the PN's failed policies," he said.

Deputy Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob

Both Shamsul and Fahmi argued that new leadership is required.

"Malaysia needs new energy, a new leadership configuration and also a new alignment that can resolve the problems of the pandemic and people's welfare as a whole," Fahmi said.

However, Ismail Sabri isn't slowing down, having organised a whirlwind of meetings to rally support for his candidacy as prime minister. 

Numbers game

Meanwhile, on the opposition front, there is still no indication that they can overcome the internal divisions.

Pakatan Harapan, which wants PKR president Anwar Ibrahim as the prime minister, has a total of 88 MPs.

Others on the opposition side included Warisan (8), Pejuang (4), PSB (2), Muda (1), Upko (1) and independent (1).

There are also 15 Umno MPs opposed to the PN government and were the ones who triggered the imminent collapse of Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin's government after they withdrew their support.

Muhyiddin, who only has the support of 100 out of 220 MPs, had indicated he will resign tomorrow.

Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin

Warisan and Pejuang, which together have 12 MPs, are part of the same bloc and have not been receptive to the idea of Anwar as prime minister.

Based on the current numbers, the opposition can only take over the government if Harapan, the Warisan-Pejuang bloc, the Umno 15 bloc and other opposition MPs join forces.

A coalition government won't be possible without either the Warisan-Pejuang bloc or the Umno 15 bloc, unless Harapan can convince MPs from the PN government to switch sides.

Ismail Sabri's faction is proposing that the Umno 15 bloc returns to PN's fold as the coalition government can now be led by an Umno leader after Muhyiddin, who is the Bersatu president, resigns.

His representatives are also lobbying other opposition parties to bolster a possible majority. - Mkini