The Malaysian Insight

THE federal government and Pakatan Harapan (PH) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) for political stability and transformation, said Ismail Sabri Yaakob.

The prime minister said the MOU would form a stronger bipartisan approach to politics.

“This is in line with Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah’s royal address in Parliament today,” said Ismail in a statement today.

According to him the MOU will cover six key areas:

- Strengthening the Covid-19 plan

- Institutional transformation

- Parliamentary reforms

- Judiciary independence

- Malaysia Agreement 1963

- Formation of a coordinating committee

On Friday, Ismail offered the opposition seven parliamentary and governance reforms, which included limiting the tenure of the prime minister to 10 years and the tabling of an anti-party hopping bill.

He also offered to give ministerial status to the opposition leader, as well as equal representation between opposition MPs and government backbenchers in parliamentary special select committees.

As for legislative improvements, Ismail proposed that all bills, including the supply bill be tabled, discussed, and mutually agreed upon in Parliament.

Ismail also offered to include opposition members in the National Recovery Council and to allow them to voice their views and proposals.

The MOU was signed in Parliament today, and witnessed by Dewan Rakyat Speaker Azhar Azizan Harun and Senate president Rais Yatim.

Ismail signed on behalf of the government while PKR president Anwar Ibrahim, Amanah chairman Mohamad Sabu, DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng and United Progressive Kinabalu Organisation president Wilfred Madius Tangau represented PH.

Earlier PH leaders had said that the deal did not mean they had joined the government, but that it was a move to ensure reforms are put in place.

PH whip Anthony Loke said that the MOU was for political stability and fighting the pandemic.

“Opposition MPs from PH will still take their seats in the opposition bloc (in the House) and will continue playing the role of check and balance for the government,” the DAP leader said in a Facebook post.

Likewise, PKR communications chief Fahmi Fadzil was reported as saying that the opposition would maintain its status quo as being the opposition.

“We will remain the opposition, and we are still His Majesty’s loyal opposition.

“When there are injustices or transgressions, we will fight,” he said.

While PH has signed the MOU with the government, the status of two other opposition parties – Warisan and Pejuang – is unclear, with their leaders claiming that PH had not involved them in the negotiations with the government.

Loke however had said that PH had briefed Pejuang president Mukhriz Mahathir on the MOU while Warisan was invited but did not turn up. – September 13, 2021.