The coalition should support Ismail Sabri’s support in parliament after months of political instability following a coup.
Malaysian Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob has signed a memorandum of understanding with the country’s opposition to seek help and address political instability in recent months as the government struggles with the increase in COVID-19-controlled Delta.
The agreement is due to be signed by 5pm (13:00 GMT) on Monday, government officials and protesters announced in their statement Sunday evening.
Malaysia’s parliament convened on Monday for the first time since Ismail Sabri, a senior member of the United Malays National Organization (UMNO), took office after resigning last month from his predecessor Muhyiddin Yassin. The monarch, the king in charge of the legislature, has urged the new Prime Minister to have a vote to show his support.
The document said the agreement was designed to be politically stable “in order to address the COVID-19 epidemic and revitalize the economy through a bilateral partnership.”
On Friday, Ismail Sabri announced a series of political reforms, including a reduction of the Prime Minister’s term of 10 years and a reduction in the number of voting years to 18, which was passed under the previous government. He said his government would also work with the opposition to ensure a unity agreement, raising the status of the opposition leader to the same level as the cabinet.
Muhyiddin, who became prime minister following the seizure of power that led to the collapse of the Pakatan Harapan coalition elected in May 2018, stepped down in August after 17 months of power.
UMNO political leaders in his party have repeatedly threatened to withdraw their support from Muhyiddin and parliamentary meetings were suspended during an emergency announced in January.
While Ismail Sabri is from UMNO, he is not the leader of the party. The party’s president, Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, and other officials are facing corruption charges.
Ismail Sabri was recently photographed by Najib Razak, a former Prime Minister who was rejected by voters in 2018 amid widespread public outcry over 1MDB billion and sentenced last year on charges of mistrust, money laundering and abuse of power.