Mixed reactions from opposition over Ismail Sabri’s appointment

 

Umno vice-president Ismail Sabri Yaakob’s appointment as the ninth prime minister has garnered mixed responses from the opposition politicians.

One that was particularly in stark difference came from DAP National Publicity secretary Tony Pua, who blamed the opposition for Umno's return to power.

"Getting kicked out of the government in February 2020 was bad. But playing a major starring role in returning power to Umno? Devastating," he said in a Facebook post this evening.

Pua was referring to the fall of Pakatan Harapan last year, and the role played by the opposition to pressure the Perikatan Nasional government that led to the recent resignation of Muhyiddin Yassin as the eighth prime minister.

Damansara MP Tony Pua

The Damansara MP has been critical of the idea of overthrowing Muhyiddin, citing fear that it could lead to Umno getting back to power after it was defeated by Harapan in the 2018 general election.

For the record, Harapan managed to form a federal government in May 2018 after years of fighting the Umno-led BN ruling coalition.

When Muhyiddin offered all political parties across the divide to work together, in what was seen as a last-ditch attempt to save his position, Pua was among the few opposition leaders who suggested that the opposition should consider it.

Muhyiddin had offered, among others, to implement political reforms that Harapan had been fighting for, including limiting the term of a prime minister and Undi18. 

Muhyiddin had also offered to give equal parliamentary allocation to all opposition MPs and that the opposition leader would be treated as a senior cabinet minister, in exchange for their support.

However, Pua's notion of accepting the olive branch extended by Muhyiddin received flak. Another DAP leader who shared similar beliefs was Bangi MP Ong Kian Ming, who was also heavily criticised.

Chan Foong Hin, the DAP MP for Kota Kinabalu, in a statement to Malaysiakini asked if the new government would extend a similar offer to the opposition.

"Would this government continue the seven offers for inter-parties cooperation, as what was laid out by former prime minister Muhyiddin - including to legislate anti-hopping laws, equal allocation to all MPs regardless of party, and implementation of Undi18 without having to wait for automatic registration?"

PKR secretary-general Saifuddin Nasution

Continue to fight for reforms

PKR secretary-general Saifuddin Nasution, meanwhile, congratulated Ismail but stressed that the opposition would continue to fight for reforms.

"Congratulations and thank you to the palace. I hope that the new prime minister will bring new politics as advised by the king.

"His (Ismail) greatest challenge is to form a stable government and to focus on Covid-19 and the economy.

"We the opposition will continue to fight for reforms and a democratic Malaysia as a responsible and constructive opposition," he said.

[More to follow] - Mkini