Sibu MP: Nothing decided on vote of confidence, still talking to govt on policies

 

Sibu MP Oscar Ling has denied rumours that opposition legislators will not vote against Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob in any vote of confidence when the Dewan Rakyat resumes its sitting on Sept 6.

Ling said they are instead still negotiating with the new government on policies they want to push through.

“Those policies will start on the seven proposals proposed by ex-PM Muhyiddin Yassin, and we will add more, especially some policies in Pakatan Harapan’s agenda,” he told the Borneo Post.

DAP's Ling (above) said the opposition is aware that there are still only likely to be 105 MPs voting against Ismail Sabri.

“Even to vote against, the end result will likely to be another prime minister from Umno,” he added.

This came following Damansara MP Tony Pua's comments that Harapan is ready to have a confidence and supply agreement (CSA) with Ismail Sabri, provided that he makes the same offers that Muhyiddin made before his resignation.

Among the reforms that Muhyiddin has offered included term limits for the prime minister, an equal allocation for all MPs, and an anti-party hopping law.

Damansara MP Tony Pua

However, Harapan chief secretary Saifuddin Nasution Ismail called Pua's comments premature, saying it was too early to say that the coalition is ready to strike a CSA deal with the government.

Saifuddin said the talks are still in the early stages - and that the agreement was not quite a CSA.

He also confirmed that talks have been initiated and that a representative of Ismail Sabri's had contacted Harapan after the coalition's leaders met the prime minister on Wednesday.

A working committee has been formed to negotiate with the government as part of phase one of the talks.

"The prime minister will then enter formal negotiations with Harapan. There are many phases before an agreement is made," he said.

Saifuddin said a final decision would only be made by the Harapan presidential council.

He also stressed that the coalition would not become part of the government. - Mkini