PAS today welcomed Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob’s gesture in getting the Oppostion’s support to combat COVID-19 and rejuvenate the economy.
“This is called mature politics which premises on the people’s welfare and national interest, putting petty political differences aside,” its secretary-general Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan said in a statement.
After being appointed as premier, Ismail Sabri extended an olive branch to Pakatan Harapan leaders, calling them to join the National Recovery Plan (NRP) and COVID-19 Task Force committees.
Following a meeting with the Prime Minister yesterday, Pakatan Harapan leaders assured him that they would not make things “complicated” when Ismail Sabri seeks a confidence vote at the Dewan Rakyat next month, provided he enacts policies for the benefit of the people.
“We told him if the situation is such, if the programmes are pro-rakyat, we will not complicate (a vote of confidence),” Malaysiakini reported Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim as saying.
Takiyuddin said that all political parties must realise that the time when one outfit dominated the national narrative was long gone. Hence, politicians must cast aside differences and focus on rebuilding the country ravaged by COVID-19.
“Let us all come together and share ideas on how to help Malaysians, by containing the pandemic and rebuild our socio-economic sector.
“As for PAS, we hope this gesture will create a new political landscape focused on people’s welfare, harmony and justice for all,” the former minister added.
Let’s build Malaysia together
Umno vice president Datuk Seri Khaled Nordin echoed Takiyuddin’s sentiments, adding that Malaysian politics must move away from the “old school” thinking and embrace a new paradigm where openness and progressive thinking is celebrated.
“Our prejudice against the Opposition must end. At the same time, the negative perception against the Government must also be done away with. In a democracy, everyone has a place to contribute to the wellbeing of a nation,” he said in a Facebook post.
Lauding the gesture, Khaled referred to the agreement between Ismail Sabri and Pakatan to cooperate on issues of national interest as a beginning of a new area.
“And I hope the joint cooperation will be followed up with concrete action plan to rebuild our country. Malaysia belongs to all of us and we must work together to safeguard its interest,” the Umno leader concluded. – Aug 26, 2021
