KUALA LUMPUR - Malaysia's Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob met top leaders of the Pakatan Harapan (PH) opposition pact on Wednesday afternoon (Aug 25) to offer reforms and wider measures to combat a deepening Covid-19 crisis, in exchange for their support in Parliament.
Official sources told The Straits Times (ST) that the leaders discussed a confidence and supply agreement (CSA), whereby PH's 88 lawmakers will vote in favour of the newly appointed Premier in an upcoming confidence motion and support Bills relating to government expenditure.
However, it is unclear if an accord was struck during the 90-minute meeting.
The meeting was attended by opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim, Parti Amanah Negara president Mohamad Sabu and Democratic Action Party secretary-general Lim Guan Eng.
Although Datuk Seri Anwar did not specifically mention a CSA, he told reporters after the meeting that the leaders discussed "pro-public" programmes and steps to tackle Malaysia's deadliest Covid-19 wave, as well as "reducing the political temperature".
"We gave our assurances that if these programmes are more effective, then we have no issues ensuring the (political) situation is better controlled. In the current climate, and if there are pro-people programmes, we will not complicate it," the Parti Keadilan Rakyat president said, when asked about the Premier's expected confidence vote in Parliament.
A joint statement by the Prime Minister and the three PH chiefs said the meeting was to "realise the King’s decree" for politicians to unite and focus on current issues.
"An agreement was reached to empower Parliament... as a check and balance on the executive. We also agreed and understand the importance of judicial independence, institutional reforms and good governance to ensure a more conducive environment for the people and nation in the context of the Malaysian family," it said, referencing the phrase used by Datuk Seri Ismail in his inaugural address on Sunday.
Former prime minister Muhyiddin Yassin had made similar overtures to the opposition on Aug 13, after about 15 Umno MPs withdrew support for him, depriving him of a parliamentary majority.
But the proposal was unanimously rejected, forcing the Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia president to resign on Aug 16.
Reforms offered then included an anti-party hopping Bill to stem defections, term limits for the prime minister and equal financial allocation for all government and opposition politicians, while an additional RM45 billion (S$14.5 billion) was pledged to the fight against Covid-19.
It is understood that PH is now asking for wider reforms beyond these.
Umno vice-president Ismail, like Tan Sri Muhyiddin, has a slim majority, as the government bench has only 114 MPs in the 222-member Parliament, where two seats are vacant.
ST reported on Tuesday that just days after Mr Ismail's Umno party decided to unanimously back him for the premiership, various factions are at loggerheads again over prized Cabinet appointments.
Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi's camp, which includes influential former premier Najib Razak, has made several demands, including in the choice of finance minister, the most coveted position aside from the premiership itself.
The party’s information chief Shahril Hamdan lauded Mr Ismail's offer to rival parties on Wednesday, calling it “an early testament to Datuk Seri Ismail’s ability to gain an understanding from the opposition... that it’s important for the country and its economy that the political turmoil not be extended any further”.
“I hope this ushers in a period of stability and cooperation which facilitates the kind of bold policy interventions required. If so, it augurs well for investors and the people,” he told ST.
A tussle between top Bersatu figures to be made deputy prime minister is also putting further pressure on Mr Ismail's efforts to mollify allies, who earlier this month clashed over whether Mr Muhyiddin should continue to lead government.
"If the deal is agreed, then that is the end of Azmin Ali and Zahid's leverage over the PM," a PH source told ST, referring to the CSA.
Datuk Seri Azmin, a senior minister in the Muhyiddin Cabinet, has been vying for the deputy premiership, along with Bersatu secretary-general Hamzah Zainudin, and was reportedly threatening to pull support for Mr Ismail, along with 10 other MPs. His aide has denied such a threat was made.
https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMiemh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LnN0cmFpdHN0aW1lcy5jb20vYXNpYS9zZS1hc2lhL21hbGF5c2lhcy1uZXctcG0taXNtYWlsLXNhYnJpLXlhYWtvYi1vZmZlcnMtcml2YWxzLXJlZm9ybXMtaW4tcmV0dXJuLWZvci1zdXBwb3J00gEA?oc=5
2021-08-25 10:18:22Z
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