LETTER | Ninth prime minister's stewardship no bed of roses

LETTER | Newly minted ninth Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob’s stewardship is being hailed as very promising, with the inked cooperation with the stalwart leaders from Pakatan Harapan.

The statement issued by PKR president Anwar Ibrahim is reassuring. The welcome by even Umno members is warm.

As stated by Pakatan Harapan’s leadership – Anwar, Lim Guan Eng, and Mat Sabu - the mutual agreement between the opposition and Ismail Sabri that has rightly placed an independent judiciary, institutional reforms, and good governance as vital work in progress for the way forward, is most reassuring in a climate of gloom left behind by the previous leadership.

The spirit of mutuality is what will ensure that the prime minister can take the nation forward in these truly turbulent circumstances.

All said, the prime minister must remain vigilant to the fact that his stewardship rests not on a bed of roses. The PM needs to be mindful of the thorns that can rattle the steps he is taking in the right direction.

The opposition is no outcast that should be treated as second fiddle. They – PKR, DAP, and Amanah – are legitimate and mandated players for the destiny of this nation.

As much as Ismail Sabri’s government desires to address the social, health, and economic ruts that citizens have been trapped in these past 17 months, the role, purpose, and capabilities of the opposition are critical for Ismail Sabri's success.

While we must embrace Ismail Sabri’s start-up with the “Keluarga Malaysia” concept, accepting the role and contributions as well as the legitimate rights of the opposition with fairness and cleaned of political ploys is what will be the mark of success for the whole country.

We must give the current prime minister room to navigate the ship in distress. He must let trust be the compass for the journey.

In accepting your appointment as the ninth prime minister, all successes must be returned to the teams on both sides of the divide while any failure must be shouldered by you like a good soldier. After all, the head that bears the crown carries the load.

As we approach the 64th Merdeka celebrations, let us have a great reason to step forward with optimism and mutual trust.

The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of Malaysiakini.