THE memorandum of understanding (MOU) between Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob and Pakatan Harapan has not failed, even though government performance has been found wanting, opposition lawmakers said.

Though slow, the government has honoured some of the MOU terms, they added.

“The government is communicating with PH through the joint steering committee,” Kangar MP Noor Amin Ahmad said.

Of the many terms in the MOU, Noor Amin said that Parliament has already amended the Federal Constitution to restore the position of Sabah and Sarawak.

He said the MOU has also ensured that the government did not contest a recent court order to allow 18-year-olds vote in elections.

“The Parliament sitting in March will see the tabling of constitutional amendments to limit the prime minister’s term and anti-party hopping laws,” Noor Amin said.

“Although, it appears slow, the legal reforms are taking place,” he added.

The PKR leader added that the MOU does not stop PH from voicing major issues or criticising the government.

After two years of political instability, which culminated in three prime ministers in four years, Ismail’s administration signed a historic confidence and supply agreement with PH one month after taking office.

The MOU, which was signed in September, covers six key areas: strengthening the Covid-19 plan, institutional and parliamentary reform, judiciary independence, the Malaysia Agreement 1963 and the formation of a government-opposition co-ordinating committee.

Early elections

Yet, while the MOU has given Ismail some respite from the opposition, it is interesting to note that the pressure is now coming from within his own party.

Shortly after winning the Malacca elections, Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the MOU was not “sacrosanct” and would not stop a general election this year.

Commenting on the matter, Klang MP Charles Santiago believes the pressure for a general election is not coming from Ismail.

He said that a group of Umno leaders want early elections so that they can escape certain court proceedings.

“The problem with the MOU we have today is that it is signed with the prime minister and not Umno,” the third-term MP said.

“Umno wants an early election to avoid court issues as a number of their senior leaders are facing graft charges,” he added.

He said that Umno was trying to ride on their recent victories, such as Barisan Nasional sweeping 21 out of 28 seats in Malacca and GPS taking 76 out of 82 seats in Sarawak.

“They want an early election to safeguard their interest and advantage,” he added.

He said that while some have criticised the MOU, the agreement has helped PH push for the Undi 18 agenda and the anti-party hopping laws.

“We must not be trapped by Najib Razak and Zahid. It is better that they go to jail,” Santiago said.

Pressure from Umno

Meanwhile, International Islamic University of Malaysia (IIUM) political science lecturer Tunku Mohar Tunku Mohd Mokhtar said that the public was still confused by the MOU.

He said that Najib’s application for a piece of land in Kuala Lumpur and the turmoil that resulted in a state election in Malacca was puzzling for outsiders.

“These incidents have questioned the commitment of the parties towards the MOU,” Tunku Mohar said.

In addition to that, Tunku Mohar said that the MOU was signed at a time when Umno was split.

“The MOU idea is a good plan but if the leaders are not committed or influential enough (as Ismail is only the vice president), it may be ineffective.

“As such, we are seeing pressure from the Umno leadership to hold elections this year,” Tunku Mohar said. – January 2, 2022.