PM, PH have reached consensus for ‘a better Malaysia’

Institutional reforms, especially a ban on party-hopping, are at the heart of the consensus reached by Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob and the top three Pakatan Harapan (PH) leaders yesterday, says a source in the know.

(FMT) – “It is for a better Malaysia. Party-hopping ruins the country. If it is allowed to continue, people will lose faith in the system and stop voting,” said the source, who declined to be named.

The source said yesterday’s joint statement signed by Ismail, PKR president Anwar Ibrahim, DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng and Amanah president Mohamad Sabu was “truly historic” and will ensure political stability at a critical time.

In the statement, the leaders said they reached a consensus to strengthen the function of Parliament as a check and balance on the executive.

The leaders said they agreed on and understood the importance of the independence of the judiciary, institutional reforms and good governance.

“There are other institutional reforms which will be shared in due course, but I can confirm that these are good for the rakyat and Malaysia,” the source told FMT.

Yesterday’s joint statement followed a meeting that the PH leaders had with Ismail at Perdana Putra, after being invited by the prime minister.

The four leaders said the meeting went on for more than an hour and focused on reaching a common ground over the management of Covid-19 and improving the economy.