ISMAIL Sabri Yaakob’s stint as the prime minister could come to a quick end following a slew of blunders he has made since assuming office on August 21, Lim Kit Siang said today.

The Iskandar Puteri MP added that Ismail might not have the luxury of three months to prove his worth.

This was in reference to Ismail’s announcement that he had given himself and his ministers 100 days to deliver.

“But more than half of Ismail’s ‘recycled’ cabinet are back in their old ministries. Can every one of these 17 ministers who have been given back their old portfolios be able to tell Parliament when it reconvenes in a week’s time what he or she can do differently in 100 days what they had failed to do in 17 months?” said Lim.

Meanwhile, the DAP leader said the prime minister himself had committed a long list of missteps since he was sworn in.

This includes the appointment of PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang, Progressive Democratic Party president Tiong King Sing and Sarawak United People’s Party deputy president Richard Riot as his special envoys.

Lim added that the appointment of Ismail’s predecessor, Muhyiddin Yassin to the chair of the National Recovery Council was also a mistake, as was Ismail’s reluctance to set a vote of confidence as the first item of parliamentary business on September 14.

“In fact, September 14 may prove to be Ismail’s Rubicon as the ninth prime minister as Malaysians may not be prepared to suspend judgment on him after that date,” he said.

Yesterday, the Attorney-General’s Chambers said in a statement that Ismail did not need to face a confidence vote in the Dewan Rakyat as the Yang di-Pertuan Agong was already satisfied that he had majority support among the members of Parliament.

The AG said as Ismail had taken office in accordance with processes stated in the constitution, there was no need for such a vote.

The statement ran contrary to a statement from Istana Negara following Ismail’s appointment to office that he must face a confidence motion in Parliament when it next meets. – September 4, 2021.