YOURSAY | Cross-party deal must include wide-ranging reforms

YOURSAY | ‘Whatever reforms done now will be a step forward.’

Harapan won't 'complicate' confidence vote if PM is pro-rakyat - Anwar

BlueShark1548: Our country is in a unique situation at present and it warrants close cooperation between government and opposition.

The politicking in the past year and a half got us an unstable government that had to appoint MPs into cabinet/GLCs just to get their support so that the government could hold on to power.

Do we want this to continue under newly-minted Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob where the government and opposition are focused on power and not the nation and rakyat, while the economy is destroyed and rakyat die, joblessness is rampant and the healthcare system breaks down?

Whatever reforms done now with the cooperation of the opposition is a step forward. We hope Ismail Sabri can achieve the kind of reforms that even Dr Mahathir Mohamad failed to do with his decades in office.

Daniel: If this materialises into a stable government to move the country forward, it will kill several birds with one stone. This includes a face-giving adherence to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong’s advice on working together.

Many are screaming blue murder about allowing the court cluster to go free, about the idealistic “no sleeping with the enemy”, and about Ismail Sabri’s racist Low Yat 2 misadventures. However, would they prefer the country to wallow in economic mire and Covid health dangers indefinitely?

Maybe these naysayers need to consider - do they think Pakatan Harapan would be naive enough to give the prime minister carte blanche to rule with their cooperation?

If a proper deal is made, they will help each other eliminate most of their pressing internal threats and this may be a precursor to two-party contests for future general elections without the uncertainty caused by mosquito parties masquerading as wannabe kingmakers.

We hope that clear heads will prevail.

Vijay47: Of late, there are suggestions from various quarters for a coalescence between government and opposition - for the traditional tensions that have long flourished be eased off in recognition of the reality that both are expected to serve the same cause.

Such suggestions are not single swallows, they are now being repeated and more reassuringly, by both sides of the divide. The recent meeting of the prime minister and opposition leaders is a tangible example.

After 60 over years of entrenched enmity, it would be too much to expect unification and shared vision to be accomplished overnight.

Nevertheless, a start seems to have been made and now it is incumbent on the heads of the two warring parties and the general public also, to set aside the more divisive differences and work to a common end. This admittedly would be a much more challenging task than it seems.

There also has to be an acceptance that politics cannot be a conduit towards personal fame or worse, personal rewards. Such temptations must be eliminated and this would be best achieved if enforcement agencies are given free hand to meet their objectives. Gone should be the days when “our boys” watched over the chicken coop.

The immediate problem is that those with vested interests would strenuously oppose any move towards more cooperative ties. Yet, success may be closer than it appears, on condition that sincerity is the guiding factor, again itself another major obstacle.

Who knows, in time with growing confidence, that double-headed demon of race and religion can be slain.

OCT: It is too early to see if Ismail Sabri is sincere in working with the opposition as no firm terms and conditions have been established. The most pressing point is whether Bersatu will support Ismail Sabri if they don't get what they want.

If Bersatu pulls out, the federal government may collapse again. So the situation is still fluid. Any government with a slim majority can be destabilised if a party with enough members decides to pull out. These parties are kingmakers.

This type of government cannot survive for long due to constant threats. The new government has no manifestos and visions to show how they will manage the country. How can Malaysia survive when there is no proper governance, trust, and integrity from the ruling government?

The new government will mostly consist of the same team of politicians who have caused a mess, especially the current prime minister. The rakyat can expect business as usual.

Restless: Any meeting to strike a working arrangement with the opposition should be carried out only after Ismail Sabri has tested his majority in Parliament. This is to maintain integrity and avoid the whole statutory declaration (SD) drama.

Ismail Sabri’s yet-to-be-tested government should start formulating the basis and framework of whatever cooperation they want to strike with the opposition, be it a confidence-supply agreement (CSA), National Recovery Council (NRC), or pro-rakyat programmes.

And the irony is that Ismail Sabri is discussing with the opposition on such matters. Isn’t his foremost task to set up his cabinet so all ministries can delve into bipartisan issues, especially concerning the pandemic and economy?

Lepak: @Restless, there is no rule barring discussions among any groups. It would be silly of Ismail Sabri not to take his reality into account - that he is prime minister because he only has a four-vote majority.

Remember, Ismail Sabri and PKR president Anwar Ibrahim have two common "enemies" - the Azmin Ali and Pejuang clusters. The Azmin cluster could bring down Ismail Sabri easily, and I wouldn't be surprised if Ismail Sabri and Umno consider Azmin a bigger threat than Harapan.

If Ismail Sabri gets Harapan on his side, he would be unshakable in Parliament.

All Things Considered: I have this advice for Anwar, DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng, and Amanah president Mohamad Sabu: Just stay out of this tussle between Ismail Sabri, Azmin, and whoever else.

Ismail Sabri is using you to push Azmin away from pressuring him to be deputy prime minister. This is a fight among Bersatu, Umno and PAS. Don't get involved.

Just focus on Harapan as the opposition. You have your block of MPs, just take care of them. There is no need to support Ismail Sabri in any form or shape. If it comes to a confidence vote in Parliament, all Harapan MPs should just vote no. Let Ismail Sabri fight it out with Azmin and his own Umno gang.

If Ismail Sabri’s government fails and the 15th general election (GE15) has to be held, so be it. Harapan should have some guts and do what is necessary for the good of the people and not anybody else.

FairMalaysian: @All Things Considered, I think we share the same concern (keeping Azmin out) but not the same strategy. You have to be friendly with your enemy (read: Umno and Ismail Sabri) to keep out your rivals.

This is not the best proposition but under the presently charged political environment, you have to play your cards well.

Don't talk about sincerity - there is none in politics. It is all about politicking and it can go either way. I am certainly warming up to the idea that it is necessary to prop up Ismail Sabri, for now.

The above is a selection of comments posted by Malaysiakini subscribers. Only paying subscribers can post comments. In the past year, Malaysiakinians have posted over 100,000 comments. Join the Malaysiakini community and help set the news agenda. Subscribe now.

These comments are compiled to reflect the views of Malaysiakini subscribers on matters of public interest. Malaysiakini does not intend to represent these views as fact.