October 11, 2022
PETALING JAYA – The best way to ensure a solid, stable government and political stability is to give the mandate back to the people, says Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob.
“I hope the rakyat will use their power to choose a government that is able to resume the implementation of Budget 2023, maintain political stability, revive and strengthen the nation’s economy,” the Prime Minister said when announcing the dissolution of Parliament effective yesterday.
The proclamation of the Parliament dissolution has also been gazetted.
Announcing that Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah had consented to the dissolution, he said he hoped the people would preserve the unity and harmony of the Malaysian Family of various religions, races and ethnicities.
With the King having given his consent, GE15 is set to be held within 60 days from yesterday.
“I had an audience with the Yang di-Pertuan Agong on Sunday afternoon.
“He consented to dissolving Parliament on Monday in accordance with Article 40 (2)(b) and Article 55(2) of the Federal Constitution,” Ismail Sabri said in a special address that was broadcast live on local television stations and social media sites.
“The dates for nomination and polling as well as other related matters will be decided by the Election Commission.
“The dissolution is being carried out to silence dissenting voices of those who questioned the government’s validity, claiming it is a backdoor government,” he added.
Ismail Sabri recommended that all heads of states, except Sabah, Sarawak, Melaka and Johor – which have recently held elections – take the action to dissolve their assemblies so state polls could be held at the same time as GE15.
“It should be held at the same time to ensure the rakyat are not burdened, to ensure a smooth democratic process and to save costs,” he said.
Six states – PAS-held Kelantan, Terengganu and Kedah and Pakatan Harapan-held Selangor, Penang and Negri Sembilan – have expressed their desire not to dissolve their state assemblies.
Ismail Sabri also reflected on his term as Prime Minister since Aug 21 last year.
“The government managed to tackle various trials and tribulations, including the Covid-19 pandemic.
“Thank you to all the frontliners and the Malaysian Family for their full support in assisting the government in curbing the pandemic.
“Because of this, the country entered the transition into endemicity on April 1.
“The country was also recognised as the best in South-East Asia in dealing with Covid-19,” he said.
“We witnessed the reopening of the economy, which revitalised various sectors,” he said.
The pandemic caused the nation’s gross domestic product (GDP) to shrink to 5.5%, the biggest reduction since the 1997-1998 financial crisis, said Ismail Sabri.
“However, the government managed to bring the country out of the economic slump with several responsive and proactive measures.“The World Bank has revised our projected GDP from 5.5% in March to 6.4%,” he noted.
“In one year, unemployment has been reduced for 12 months straight, and was 3.7% in July (this year) compared to 4.8% in July last year.
“In terms of foreign direct investment (FDI), we received RM47.4bil in the first six months this year compared to RM48.1bil for the whole of last year,” he said.
Budget 2023, the biggest Budget to date involving RM372.3bil, was tabled in Parliament on Oct 7, said Ismail Sabri.
“Every segment of the rakyat will benefit from this Budget,” he said.
With the dissolution, however, the Budget tabled on Friday cannot be passed and will have to be retabled in the 15th Parliament.
Ismail Sabri said the 14th Parliament term had painted a bleak picture of the country’s politics.
“Never before have we seen three prime ministers in the same term.
“However, we ended the fighting by bringing them to the discussion table.
“We were searching for common ground, not disunity,” he said in outlining how the Transformation and Political Stability Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the government and the Opposition was signed.
“It (the MOU) has benefited the whole of Keluarga Malaysia.
“Through this alliance, we managed to implement various transformations including the amendment that prohibits Dewan Rakyat members from switching parties, the amendment on Malaysian Agreement 1963 (MA63) and introducing the Anti-Sexual Harassment Bill,” he said.
Talk that Parliament would be dissolved was sparked after Ismail Sabri had an audience with Sultan Abdullah on Oct 9, the second time in four days.
Yesterday, all the talk proved to be true.
