Harapan not bound by Umno's decision on MOU, says Loke

 

Pakatan Harapan is not bound by any decisions made by the Umno supreme council on the memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the BN-led federal government, said DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke.

Instead, the Seremban MP said the Umno supreme council's decision to not extend the MOU beyond July 31 is a matter between Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob and Umno.

"It must be stressed that the MOU is an agreement between Harapan and the federal government, not with Umno's top leaders.

"Therefore we are not bound by any decisions of the Umno supreme council," said Loke in a statement today.

He echoed Amanah communications director Khalid Samad's view that no decisions can be made on matters related to the MOU unless through formal discussions between Ismail Sabri on behalf of the government and Harapan's top leaders.

At the same time, Loke also noted differing views among the government bloc on the MOU's timeline, with Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin reportedly saying he would be seeking clarification from Ismail Sabri.

Regardless, Loke said Harapan's priority before the dissolution of Parliament remains to be the implementation of all the government's commitments to the MOU, particularly the enactment of the anti-hopping law.

He added that DAP leaders at the party's recent retreat had ordered its election machinery to be fully prepared by August this year.

"No matter what the circumstances may be, I am confident that the DAP and Harapan are ready to face any possibilities, including for Parliament to be dissolved in early August," he said.

Putrajaya, under the MOU, had promised not to dissolve Parliament until at least July 31, 2022, to have enough time to implement various reforms sought by Harapan in exchange for the opposition not obstructing key government agendas. - Mkini