NEWLY minted Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob’s offer of places for the Opposition in the National Recovery Council (NRC) and the Special Committee on COVID-19 is disingenuous, said Penang Deputy Chief Minister II Prof Dr P Ramasamy Palanisamy.
According to the Perai assemblyman, Ismail Sabri as the newly-installed prime minister needs to engage in some public relations exercise to show that he is above partisan lines of race and religion.
“Since the country is faced with the twin inter-related challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic and economic growth, Ismail thinks that functioning along family lines of trust and common values will ensure the success of the Government,” Ramasamy opined.
In Ismail Sabri’s inaugural speech yesterday (Aug 22), the PM urged Malaysians to work as one big family in the larger interest of the nation.
“Ismail has no choice but to put forward this propaganda piece, something required for the new Government to show that it was an all-embracing one in the interest and welfare of the larger nation.”
However, Ramasamy noted that Ismail Sabri’s public relations engagement must be taken with a huge dose of salt as his Government might not be different from the old one that was headed by Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin who resigned on Aug 16.
“Although Cabinet members have not be appointed, there is nothing to suggest their performance might be different from the earlier Government.
“There is nothing to indicate that Ismail Sabri might be honest or sincere to be taken seriously.
“He is part of a Malay-only government that has virtually excluded the participation of the non-Malay.
“I am sure the Opposition leaders are not going to swallow what is being dished out by Ismail Sabri,” Ramasamy pointed out.
Added Ramasamy, non-Malay participation in the Cabinet is a mere act of window-dressing under the Perikatan Nasional (PN) Government.
“No non-Malay worthy of pride and dignity would want to be member of the Cabinet that is completely overshadowed by right-wing Malays.
“What family is he talking about taking about? What values is he talking about and how is he going to bring about the union of political enemies in councils and committees?”
Ramasamy further casted doubt on what Ismail Sabri has got to offer in the meantime.
“Let us not be deluded into thinking that he might have something interesting. I don’t think that Ismail with his ministers in rotation can do wonders to address the pressing matters.
“I would be surprised that he can last until the next general election. There are too many fissiparous tendencies to prevent Ismail Sabri’s smooth sailing in office.” – Aug 23, 2021.
