Ismail pledges an inclusive govt, open to diverse views

 

‘I was a PM for all, and I will continue to be a PM for all,’ says Ismail Sabri Yaakob. (Bernama pic)

BERA: Umno vice-president Ismail Sabri Yaakob has pledged to form an inclusive government that cherishes and thrives on diverse views if he gets the mandate to be prime minister again.

“Enough of divisive politics,” Ismail said, urging voters to give Barisan Nasional a chance to build a stable and prosperous future for all.

Ismail, who is BN’s poster boy for the general election campaign, said: “I was a PM for all, and I will continue to be a PM for all. Malaysians who vote for the opposition are still Malaysians. They are still part of my Keluarga Malaysia.”

He said the reforms already put in place to ensure greater checks and balances in government and in Parliament will continue.

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He was hopeful that the next government to be formed after the general election would be a coalition of sincere partners, thus establishing political stability from the beginning.

“BN has an understanding with our friends, Gabungan Rakyat Sabah and Gabungan Parti Sarawak. “Unlike Pakatan Harapan and Perikatan Nasional, we respect the view that Sabah and Sarawak must be governed by their own coalitions,” he said in an interview with FMT.

Political stability would strengthen Malaysia’s economy which was vital in moving forward in a post-Covid-19 era, he said.

Ismail said he was proud of the fact that the people had accepted the Keluarga Malaysia concept initiated by his government, which he described as an important element to continue strengthening unity and harmony among Malaysians.

“We have not seen any polemic incidents related to religious and racial issues lately. This is important for a country that has a pluralistic society,” he said.

Ismail said Malaysia and the rest of the world faced challenging times next year and the country could not afford any more missteps, no matter who formed the new government.

According to the International Monetary Fund, global economic activity will take a sharper-than-expected slowdown next year.

“The cost-of-living crisis, tightening financial conditions in most regions, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and the lingering Covid-19 pandemic all weigh heavily on the economic outlook,” the fund said in a report last month.

Global growth is forecast to slow to 2.7% in 2023 but global inflation is also expected to decline to 6.5% after reaching 8.8% this year. - FMT