ISMAIL Sabri Yaakob is in a stronger position now following the signing of a deal with Pakatan Harapan (PH), Tony Pua said.

However, the Damansara MP also noted that the opposition pact was not giving the prime minister a free ride, and would instead extract all the promised reforms for the benefit of the people.

In a Facebook posting, Pua said Ismail was in a better position to stop any demands from the Umno court cluster as well as pressure from the Azmin Ali faction.

“Had the MOU not been signed, Ismail’s hand would have been weakened and he would have had to give in to the demands of the kleptocrats.

“He does not need to entertain any demands from the Azmin camp for the latter to be appointed DPM.

“Ismail is now in a stronger position to push back any threats and demands by the Umno court cluster and Azmin’s faction,” he said.

Pua added that PH would extract as much benefits as it can from the MOU for the people and to improve the country’s democratic institution.

“The MOU means that the rakyat will now get some peace and stability to deal with Covid-19 and the economy, instead of being perpetually preoccupied with repeated attempts to grab power by parties who claim to have a strong, formidable and convincing majority.

“Once the Parliament gets dissolved any time after July 2022, Pakatan Harapan will fight tooth and nail to have the people’s mandate returned to the rightful parties,” he said.

The DAP lawmaker said although the opposition did not succeed in inking the agreement with Muhyiddin Yassin, it succeeded in convincing the new prime minister to implement much-needed landmark reforms.

“These reforms come attached with a clear timetable of implementation, to be completed by the first sitting of next year (2022).

“We missed the boat with Muhyiddin. And as a consequence, allowed Umno to take over the PM-ship.

“Thankfully, we have the second bite of the cherry, albeit one which isn’t as sweet, with Ismail Sabri,” he said.

He also said Ismail’s government has decided to adopt a less adversarial approach with the opposition role in Parliament.

Pua said after more than 40 years, the country will see anti-hopping laws passed in Parliament after it was first moved by DAP’s Lim Kit Siang in 1978.

“Kit Siang first moved a private member’s bill for an Anti-Hopping Law Act on March 21, 1978 to protect the integrity of the Parliament.

“More than 40 years later, and after Langkah Sheraton made a complete mockery of the 2018 people’s mandate, we will finally see such an act passed in the House to end the shameful practice of political frogs.”

He also said that Ismail has learnt from Muhyiddin’s mistake where the Bersatu president waited too long to offer the olive branch to the opposition.

Yesterday, the federal government and PH signed an MOU for political stability and transformation.

Ismail the MOU would form a stronger bipartisan approach to politics. – September 14, 2021.