WITH UMNO’s decision to discontinue the memorandum of understanding (MoU) in July, DAP stressed that the party’s decision has no bearing to the agreement signed between the Government and Opposition.
“That is purely between Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob and the UMNO supreme council. I must reiterate that the MoU is between the Government and Opposition.
“The agreement has nothing to do with the UMNO leadership and we’re not bound by any of their decisions,” DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke said in a statement.
However, Loke’s statement seems to be at odds with Ismail Sabri’s statement yesterday, who said that the Government would abide by UMNO supreme council’s decision in not extending the MoU beyond July 31.
Ismail Sabri, on that note, did mention that some changes “could happen” before the expiration date.
“The decision was made yesterday, that the MoU will last until July 31. So, we will wait for July 31, and as of yesterday, the supreme council said there is no need to extend the MoU.
“However, let’s wait until July 31,” Free Malaysia Today reported the Bera MP as saying.
Yesterday, Parti Amanah Negara communications director Khalid Samad also said that UMNO’s decision on the MoU has no bearing on the agreement signed.
“It should be explained here that the MOU is an agreement and a deal done between Pakatan and the Federal Government, instead of with UMNO.
“That is why any decision to continue or end the MOU is subject to the decision of the PM, not the decision of the UMNO supreme council,” Malaysiakini reported the former federal territories minister as saying.
Ready to rumble
On that note, Loke said that it seemed like there are disagreement among parties aligned to the Government bloc on the MoU’s timeline.
Regardless, the former transport minister mentioned that as for Pakatan, the pertinent issue was for the Government to fulfil all its obligations signed under the MoU, particularly enacting the anti-hopping law before the Parliament is dissolved.
“In any case, we have instructed our election machinery to get ready for snap polls, which may be called August and Pakatan is all geared up for it,” Loke concluded. – April 16, 2022
