By Nur Ashikin Louis
KUCHING, Aug 22: Sarawak Federation of Chinese Associations (SFCA) president Dato Richard Wee hopes that the new Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob would consider implementing the seven reforms proposed by his predecessor Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.
He said if Ismail, who was also part of the previous Cabinet, is willing to implement the proposed reforms, he would be able to show the sincerity of the new government in working with all parties for the betterment of the country.
“The previous PM has already offered the seven reforms but the other side (Opposition) has rejected it.
“With him (Ismail Sabri) being in the previous administration, I hope he would be willing to implement the proposal to show to the Opposition that the new Government is really sincere to get everybody to work and in proposing a unity government.
“By continuing Muhyiddin’s proposal, we can see whether the other parties are sincere in working with the current government too,” he told DayakDaily when contacted today.
Wee also wished Ismail Sabri the best in forming a ‘good and young’ Cabinet to assist him in moving forward especially during this challenging time of the Covid-19 pandemic.
“It is good if he (Ismail Sabri) is able to show that he is inclusive and willing to try to work with everybody for the interest of the nation rather than the interest of the party. That kind of politicking is getting tiring already. We need to move forward as a nation,” he added.
On Aug 13, Muhyiddin in a special televised speech titled ‘Together in National Recovery’ proposed a seven-point cross-party framework for bipartisan cooperation in exchange for the Opposition’s support during the vote of confidence in the Parliament.
The seven reforms included equal allocations of funds to all MPs across the political divide, enact an anti-hopping law and limiting the prime minister’s tenure in office, as well as ensuring a balanced representation of MPs from the government and opposition in the Special Parliamentary Select Committee.
Muhyiddin also promised to implement Undi18 to allow those who reach 18 years of age to vote at the next election, incorporate the Opposition’s recommendation to inject an allocation of RM45 billion into the Covid-19 Fund as well as to consult with all MPs before a bill including the Supply Bill is passed in Parliament.
Meanwhile, the last offer was to provide the Opposition leader remuneration and facilities equivalent to that of a Senior Minister.
However, the Opposition parties have rejected the reforms offer which left Muhyiddin with no choice but to step down from his post after failure to secure the support of majority to remain as the Prime Minister.
After Muhyiddin and his Cabinet stepped down on Aug 16, Dewan Rakyat speaker Datuk Azhar Azizan Harun issued a notice the following day, instructing all 220 MPs to submit statutory declarations to nominate their prime minister candidate to Istana Negara by Aug 18.
Ismail Sabri who is the United Malays National Organisation (Umno) vice-president was named for the prime ministership after he had obtained the support of 114 MPs, beating his contender Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim who is the Opposition leader.
Ismail Sabri took his oath of office as the ninth Prime Minister of Malaysia before Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah at Istana Negara yesterday (Aug 21). — DayakDaily
