Ismail Sabri: We want dominant position even if BN doesn’t win outright

 

Even if BN does not win an outright majority in the upcoming polls, it hopes to do well enough to be in a dominant position in any future coalition government, said caretaker prime minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob.

“We are competing in 178 seats. As always mentioned by our leadership, we must be dominant.

“If we get 80-90 seats, it will be easier for other parties to join us.

“Of course, if you ask us today we are sure we will cross 112, but if that doesn't happen and there is no choice but for us to form a mixed government, then we would like to lead it,” he said.

Ismail Sabri was appearing in a special television broadcast titled “Bual Bicara Khas Bersama Perdana Menteri - Kestabilan dan Kemakmuran”.

Ismail Sabri said that most other countries are led by coalition governments and Malaysia must prepare for an era where no one group is dominant.

“I believe our country is moving towards the system of other developed countries, in which you rarely have one ruling party for many years.

“So we are also ready, if we cannot cross 112 (the required number to command majority support in Parliament) we are ready to form a mixed government.

“If we have 40 seats and other parties have 60 seats, it is not possible for us to lead that mixture. We want to lead.

“So even if we cannot get 112, at least if we get 80-90, we can be dominant. If we have 30 and other people have 80, other people will take the PM’s seat,” said Ismail Sabri.

However, he said it was still too early to decide which parties BN might work with, adding it was very likely that they would invite Sarawak’s GPS grouping party as well as Sabah’s GRS.

“Because no matter how many seats we get in the peninsula, we must have parties from Sarawak and Sabah in the federal government. They cannot be left out,” Ismail Sabri stressed.

The programme was aired on TV3, RTM, BernamaTV and Astro Awani at 9.35pm tonight.

Earlier, Ismail Sabri declared Nov 18 and 19 as public holidays to enable the voting process to go smoothly this Saturday.

Some 30 highway concessionaires have also agreed to make their roads toll-free on those two days. - Mkini