IT is up to Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob to extend the political memorandum of understanding (MOU) as there is no expiry date on it, Mohamad Sabu said.

“The MOU has no expiry date. It only says that there should be no general election before the end of July,” said the Amanah president in Petaling Jaya today.

“So, if there’s no elections in July, it’s up to the prime minister whether he wants to extend it or not.”

In September 2021, the federal government and Pakatan Harapan signed a pact to establish bipartisan cooperation covering the areas of strengthening the plan to fight Covid-19, transformation of the administration, parliamentary reforms, ensuring judicial independence, the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) and formation of a steering committee.

Mohamad was responding to a question on what will happen after the MOU expires in July, on the sidelines of the Nadi Rakyat conference today.

“But if I were the prime minister, I will go full term as it is until June 2023,” he added.

Ismail is in a tussle with a small faction in Umno led by president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi. While Ismail, who is the party’s vice-president, had kept mum about his intentions for the 15th general election, Zahid’s faction is pushing for a general election held this year.

Zahid, former president Najib Razak and his wife, Rosmah Mansor, are facing trials for abuse of power and corruption.

The pro-opposition conference, which is organised by PKR, saw some 200 activists and artists speaking on five key subjects – education, public transportation, cost of living, women, and youth and the arts.

The Nadi Rakyat conference, which was chaired by former Kedah assembly speaker, Ahmad Kassim, was held to allow activists and artists to speak up on issues affecting them and voters. – July 2, 2022.