Ismail Sabri: PN's rule was chaos, I restored calm

 

GE15 | Caretaker prime minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob has lambasted Perikatan Nasional (PN) leaders for claiming that his administration is a failed government, saying the latter is “delusional” and devoid of facts.

Ismail Sabri stressed that he had restored calm to the country after taking over the prime ministerial role from PN chairperson Muhyiddin Yassin when Covid-19 cases were at their highest in history.

Citing the rapid gross domestic product (GDP) growth, the fall of the unemployment rate, and the country’s economic recovery since he became the prime minister, the incumbent Bera MP asked his former coalition colleagues-turned-rival to “show their numbers”.

“I showed my numbers, which proved my success. When I took over from the PN chairperson, the Covid-19 cases were at their highest. There were hundreds of deaths a day and hospitals were overwhelmed.

“When he (Muhyiddin) ruled, the country’s political scene was chaotic. If you want to play politics, so be it.

“I don’t play politics and I speak based on facts. We work for the rakyat,” Ismail Sabri (above, left) told reporters after a meet-and-greet with Felda Lasah settlers at the Semai Bakti multipurpose hall in Sungai Siput, Perak today.

PM is ‘weak’

Previously, Kedah PN chief Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor alleged that Ismail Sabri is already “out of the race” in this general election as he does not have the support of Umno members.

During ceramah sessions, several PN leaders have also claimed that the Umno vice-president is a “weak” prime minister and therefore, is unfit to resume the position if BN recaptures Putrajaya.

Asked if Umno needs “cleansing” after his party colleague Khairy Jamaluddin made that remark, Ismail Sabri stressed that the focus now is not to discuss internal party issues. 

“The issue now is to face the general election, not about the party’s internal issues. All candidates have their own seats to focus on.

“Therefore, we must lessen the polemic among us.

“Whatever his opinion is, I’m not sure. I didn’t get to ask him what he meant. The focus now is on winning.” 

On Nov 11, Khairy confessed to having a disdain for some Umno leaders and wishes to cleanse his party should he successfully capture Sungai Buloh as BN’s candidate in this general election.

He was quoted as saying by Berita Harian that he wishes to bring change to Umno and wanted the party to be seen as a noble vessel for the Malay community again.

“Nowadays, many people meet and tell me it’s not that they don’t like Umno but they don't like some (individuals) in Umno.

“The media should not compare me to (my party) president (Ahmad Zahid Hamidi), but this is the truth and the reality. Me and other friends want to return Umno as a Malay political body that is noble, clean, evolving, that has good leaders and can be trusted like it was in the past,” he said. - Mkini