Though ‘disappointing’, Ismail should be given a chance, says Kit Siang
Lim Kit Siang says despite Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob’s “disappointing” performance so far, Malaysians should give him a chance to acquit himself, especially following the memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed with Pakatan Harapan leaders last Monday.
(FMT) – The DAP veteran said the support for the MoU is vital not for Ismail’s sake but for the future of the country.
“Ismail is not a reformer but if he is forced by political circumstances to be one, he deserves full support. Not for anyone’s sake but for the sake of the nation.
“Malaysia needs a political moratorium for 10-18 months before the next general election as we do not want it to fall into the trajectory of a failed state,” he said in a statement.
He said during this moratorium, a new strategy must be devised to win the losing war against the Covid-19 pandemic and reset institutional and parliamentary reforms so that the people can return to the mission of making Malaysia a world-class nation.
However, the Iskandar Puteri MP also listed out what he considered were Ismail’s disappointing decisions. They are:
- the failure to seek a vote of confidence in Parliament;
- a recycled jumbo-sized Cabinet;
- the appointment of Muhyiddin Yassin as chairman of the National Recovery Council;
- the nomination of Ahmad Maslan as deputy Speaker;
- the appointment of his elder brother, Zamri Yaakob as chairman of National Farmers’ Organisation (NAFAS);
- the failure of the Cabinet to uphold the High Court decision declaring children born overseas to Malaysian mothers are entitled to citizenship; and,
- the failure to meet with the Malaysian Consultative Council on Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism and Taoism (MCCBCHST) on plans to enact a new law on the control of non-Muslim religions.
“Most importantly, there are no signs that we have turned the corner in the war against the Covid-19 pandemic after almost a month of Ismail’s premiership and three weeks after the swearing-in of a new health minister,” he said.