M'sia ruling government, opposition Pakatan Harapan sign historic bipartisan cooperation memorandum

KUALA LUMPUR — The Malaysian government and opposition bloc Pakatan Harapan (PH) on Monday (Sept 13) signed a historic memorandum of understanding (MOU) to ink their bipartisan cooperation, an agreement that could also help the premier win a confidence vote.

Called the “Memorandum of Understanding on Political Stability and Transformation”, Malaysia Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob said the bipartisan cooperation — the first in the country’s history — was in line with the royal decree outlined by Malaysia's king Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri'ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah earlier on Monday.

He had repeated his call for bipartisan support to go towards efforts to revive the ailing economy and fight the Covid-19 pandemic.

“The government is confident that this MOU will not only be able to put aside all political differences, but also to ensure that the country’s recovery runs holistically and inclusively," said Mr Ismail in a statement.

“The transformation set to be introduced will not only strive towards good governance in the fight against Covid-19 and the economic recovery, but also stimulate a conducive investment climate that will spur strong economic growth for the well being of the Malaysian Family."

Mr Ismail took office last month with a slim parliamentary majority, becoming the third prime minister in as many years, but the constitutional monarch has called for him to face a vote of confidence to prove he has majority support in parliament.

The legislature reconvened on Monday but no date has been set for the confidence vote.

Mr Ismail said the MOU comprised six initiatives from empowerment of Covid-19 plans, administrative transformation, parliamentary reforms, Malaysian Agreement MA63, judicial independence and the establishment of a steering committee.

He however, did not say whether the agreement included his previous offer to the opposition to introduce political reforms including laws to prevent defections and to limit a prime minister to 10 years in office.

His offer on Friday had also included: Bipartisan agreement on every bill to be introduced in parliament, input from opposition parties on a national recovery council and immediate lowering of the minimum voting age to 18 from 21. He also said the opposition leader would get the same pay and privileges as a cabinet minister.

Malaysia has seen political instability since the election defeat in 2018 of the United Malays National Organisation (Umno), which had governed for more than 60 years since independence, after a string of corruption allegations.

Parti Keadilan Rakyat president Anwar Ibrahim, Democratic Action Party secretary-general Lim Guan Eng, Parti Amanah Negara president Mohamad Sabu and United Progressive Kinabalu Organisation president Wilfred Madius Tangau were present for the official signing on Monday.

Parliament president Rais Yatim, Speaker Azhar Azizan Harun, Ketereh Member of Parliament (MP) Annuar Musa, Seremban MP Anthony Loke, Senator Donald Peter Mojuntin, Kulim Bandar Baharu MP Saifuddin Nasution Ismail and Pulai MP Salahuddin Ayub were also present.

During the ceremony, Mr Ismail thanked all lawmakers who unanimously decided to set aside their political ideological differences to jointly spearhead economic stability and the wellbeing of Malaysia. AGENCIES