OPPOSITION leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim urged Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob to allocate an additional RM45 bil under the Economic Turnaround Plan to help the public who are suffering from the pandemic triggered economic crisis.
“Pakatan Harapan’s priority is not only about parliamentary reforms but also fiscal reforms. We need more pro-people programmes to alleviate the public’s grievances.
“This includes automatic loan moratorium for the M40 and B40 groups and strengthening the independence of our judiciary,” he said in a statement.
Yesterday, Ismail Sabri announced that he would embark on implementing the seven reforms promised to strengthen the parliamentary democracy system and rejuvenate the economy.
Among the reforms announced were implementing anti-party hopping law, executing Undi18, limiting the prime minister’s tenure to two-terms and uplifting the Opposition leader’s post to a ministerial rank.
The Bera MP remarked that the reforms were in line with the Malay Rulers’ decree to create a stable and effective administration to combat COVID-19 and prop up the economy.
Touching on the vote of confidence, Anwar reiterated Pakatan’s stand that Ismail Sabri must call for it to be done at the Dewan Rakyat, as per Istana Negara’s decree to all political party leaders during a meeting on Aug 17.
“Pakatan will continue to play our role as an effective opposition by championing good administration which is free of corruption.
“At the same time, we also stress the need for Pakatan leaders to be treated as equals, as per our constitutional role to serve as check and balance to the Executive branch,” the Port Dickson MP stressed.
Treat us as equals, Perikatan
On related matter, DAP secretary general Lim Guan Eng urged Ismail Sabri to show his sincerity to the voters by doing more than the reforms promised.
“The seven political reforms mentioned by the premier yesterday was based on his predecessor’s promise in an attempt to salvage his post but was rejected as he was untrustworthy.
“As the new leader, Ismail Sabri must show the people that he is way better than former Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin by making better changes, especially when it comes to the economy and improving public healthcare services,” he quipped.
With that, Lim urged the Government to moot a National COVID-19 Set Plan as the administration moves from containment to mitigating the pandemic crisis.
“Reopening the economic sectors fully will need a combination of both accelerated vaccination process to achieve herd immunity and mass testing.
“We must go all out on find, test, trace, isolate and support with vaccinations (FTTIS+V) as recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO).
“This will ensure our public hospitals are fully equipped with sufficient ICU beds, medicine and other facilities to help care for patients,” the former finance minister mentioned.
Lim added that the reforms mentioned must be attached with a clear deadline, to ensure everything gets done as scheduled.
“And I urge the new Government to build and strengthen ties with the Opposition, given that it only has a four-seat majority,” the Bagan MP reminded. – Sept 11, 2021
