Govt, opposition agree new MoU not needed, says PM

The government and the opposition have agreed that there is no need for a new written agreement between them to replace the memorandum of understanding (MoU) on transformation and political stability signed in September 2021.

However, Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob said that despite being unwritten, the understanding meant to ensure the well-being of the people and political stability in the country could still be continued.

"To continue or not to continue (the MoU) is not important. What’s important is the understanding to continue protecting public interests. 

"Both sides have agreed that there is no need for a new written agreement to continue the mutual understanding to protect public interests to ensure political stability," he told reporters after launching an event in Kuala Lumpur yesterday.

He said several matters stated in the MoU between the government and Pakatan Harapan (PH) would also be implemented, such as the constitutional amendment to prohibit members of the Dewan Rakyat from changing parties and the political funding law.
 
When asked about the expiry date of the MoU, Ismail said it would expire when Parliament is dissolved.

He said the MoU only stated that the next general election would not be held before July 31, adding that this was not the expiry date of the MoU.

He said that the dissolution of Parliament did not depend on anything and that it would be dissolved when the time came.

"If I feel the time is right to dissolve Parliament, I will dissolve it... either this year or next year," he said.

On Sept 13 last year, the federal government and PH signed the MoU for a bipartisan cooperation for the sake of political stability. The deal comprised a Covid-19 plan, and agreement for administrative transformation, parliamentary reform, judiciary independence, matters concerning the Malaysia Agreement 1963 and the establishment of a steering committee.