KUCHING: A local-based opposition party welcomed Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaacob as the country’s ninth prime minister with a call to the new administration to put politics aside and concentrate on battling the crippling Covid-19 pandemic.
Party Sedar Rakyat Sarawak (Sedar) president Datuk Othman Abdillah also said the new administration has a challenging task of putting the economy back on a strong footing.
“First and foremost, we would like to thank His Majesty DYMM Yang DiPertuan Agung for acting swiftly to appoint a new prime minister to avert any prolonged political uncertainty,” he said in a statement.
Noting that the country and rakyat had to go through the process of witnessing three prime ministers since May 2018, enduring one of their most painful periods in history, Othman questioned the behaviours of some of the parliamentarians who showed little regard for the democratic electoral process.
“For the whole time they were backstabbing and plotting the downfall of each other, not once but twice, many segments of society have reached breaking points, like increased suicides and unemployment not to mention the critical state of the economy.
“Our new prime minister must now task himself with getting the country out of the situation that it is in.
“Everyone must respect the decision of our beloved King and set aside politicking that has been going on in the past three years,” he said.
The Sedar chief said the rakyat cannot afford more attempts to topple the new government by political manoeuvres and “leapfrogging, especially through the back door”.
He said the new administration should give priority to tackling the pandemic and serving only the rakyat who had placed great faith and hope in them.
“Sedar also reminds all parliamentarians to reach deep into their conscience and make it possible upon themselves to serve until the end of the current term, or else it will be the people who will suffer from the worsening pandemic.
“They should not risk the rakyat’s health and safety by causing a situation where an early election needs to be called,” Othman said.
He said the new government should be allowed to serve the full term till May 2023 for any chance of serving the rakyat meaningfully.
