Bagaimana Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri hadapi Tekanan Top 5 untuk Pilihanraya
Keputusan paling sukar setahun yang lalu ketika menjadi perdana menteri
Saya jadi Perdana Menteri tidak terlintas di fikiran, saya hanya bekerja untuk rakyat
Cabaran paling getir yang dihadapi dan dirasai sebagai seorang Perdana Menteri
Tempoh Perdana Menteri itu tidak penting yang paling penting adalah prestasi
SOURCE: SUARA TV
GE15: Various factors need careful consideration before dissolving Parliament - PM
Bernama
Ogos 21, 2022
Whether GE15 will be held this year or next year, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said it requires a more detailed and careful consideration before any decision to dissolve the Parliament can be made. - BERNAMA
PUTRAJAYA: Every day everywhere, the big question of when the 15th General Election (GE15) will be called continues to be the main topic of discussion among all segments of society in Malaysia.
Whether it will be held this year or next year, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said it requires a more detailed and careful consideration before any decision to dissolve the Parliament can be made.
He said this was because the government's priority now is on solving the numerous issues troubling the people and the country, with the latest relating to the Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) and the global economic slowdown projected next year.
Ismail Sabri opined that the GE15 can be called if the two factors - current issues and economic uncertainty - are first and foremost, tackled and stabilised.
"We are concerned with the projected economic uncertainty next year, but the longer we wait, the more difficult the situation will be, so maybe we can have it (GE15) this year.
"But if we say this year, there are just too many ongoing issues that need to be solved. That's why it is quite a tough decision to make," he said in 'An Interview with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob', themed Inspirasi Setahun Keluarga Malaysia at Seri Perdana here.
Today marked Ismail Sabri's one-year anniversary in leading Keluarga Malaysia's government. He took over the Prime Minister's office following the resignation of Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin on Aug 16, 2021, after failing to command the majority support of the Members of Parliament.
Bombarded with questions that revolve around politics and GE15 during the 45-minute interview, Ismail Sabri concurred with the fact that the mandate must be returned to the people to elect a new government.
"Yes, the people have to be given the chance to elect a new government as it has changed three times (in this parliamentary term). Some of them acknowledged it, some don't, so it's better to return the mandate to the people. Yet, we have so many issues that need to be resolved...in terms of economy, income, and employment.
"Even though, since January until now, we have provided 400,000 jobs to the people, the minimum wage of RM1,500 is still being disputed and may need to be increased because certain quarters said it's inadequate. This is among the many issues that we need to address," he said, clearly showing concern for the people's wellbeing.
The five-year mandate of the current government will expire in July 2023 and the GE15 must be held within 60 days of the dissolution of Parliament.
Ismail Sabri is the third prime minister appointed in this parliamentary term. After the GE14 in May 2018, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad become the country's 7th Prime Minister for 22 months under the Pakatan Harapan government before it lost power in February 2020 and he was replaced by Muhyiddin with his Perikatan Nasional (PN) government.
Amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, Malaysia witnessed four state elections held after the GE14, namely in Sabah, Melaka, Sarawak and Johor, and Ismail Sabri's political coalition, Barisan Nasional (BN) successfully won back the states of Melaka and Johor, each with a two-thirds majority, and formed a new state government in Sabah with Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS).
Ismail Sabri, who is UMNO Member of Parliament for Bera, said BN's success in the state election in Melaka in November last year and in Johor last March, cannot be used as a guarantee of success for the coalition in GE15.
In Johor, he said BN's landslide victory was probably made possible by the low voter turnout due to COVID-19 concerns, but the situation may differ during the GE15.
"Some people may think that election at the state level is not so important.
"But for the federal level, it's totally different. Amid their COVID concerns, the voters will come out and vote to make sure that their parties can form a new government. That's why I think BN's success in Melaka and Johor cannot be used as a guarantee of success or support for us," he said.
On UMNO Top Five's suggestion to have the GE15 held this year, the Prime Minister said that all the five leaders including himself can make any suggestion, but the power to dissolve the Parliament belongs to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.
"The Top Five can discuss anything...if I bring their suggestion to the Cabinet and the Cabinet agrees and even sets a date for it, and then I bring it to Agong and he doesn't agree, it will not happen," he said.
UMNO Top Five refers to president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, deputy president Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan and the three vice-presidents - Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin, Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid and Ismail Sabri himself.
Unlike before, Ismail Sabri said the dissolution of Parliament needs to be discussed by the Cabinet as BN is not the single coalition that formed the current government.
The federal government led by Ismail Sabri, which was formed in August 2021, consists of three coalitions - BN, PN and Gabungan Parti Sarawak.
-- BERNAMA
Budget 2023 focuses on initiatives to face bleak economic challenges - PM
Bernama
Ogos 21, 2022
Budget 2023 focuses on initiatives to face bleak economic challenges - PM
Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said the upcoming Budget 2023 will touch every segment of society, with a focus on preparing everyone to face the challenges of the world economy, which is expected to be more 'bleak' next year. - BERNAMA
PUTRAJAYA: Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said the upcoming Budget 2023, to be tabled in October, will touch every segment of society, with a focus on preparing everyone to face the challenges of the world economy, which is expected to be more 'bleak' next year.
The Prime Minister said the engagement process for budget preparation is currently underway and will involve several parties.
"We will meet everyone, including the opposition. We will meet all of them, associations, the business community, farmers and breeders. The budget consultation will be held next week," he said in 'An Interview with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob', themed 'Inspirasi Setahun Keluarga Malaysia' at Seri Perdana here.
Today marked Ismail Sabri's one-year anniversary in leading Keluarga Malaysia's government
On Aug 15, Ismail Sabri said that Budget 2023 will, among other things, continue to emphasise the welfare of Keluarga Malaysia. It will also take into account the country's readiness to face the possibility of a more challenging global economic crisis.
In July, International Monetary Fund (IMF) managing director Kristalina Georgieva said the IMF expects the global economic situation to continue to be challenging in 2022 and 2023, with an increased risk of recession.
According to the IMF, the overall outlook is described as "extremely uncertain," and inflation rates will rise sharply, causing central banks in major economies to tighten monetary policy.
Commenting further, Ismail Sabri said he is confident that the tabling of the 2023 Budget in the Dewan Rakyat will obtain the full support of the opposition because it is one of the essences signed by both parties in the memorandum of understanding (MoU) on Transformation and Political Stability.
"The budget, in terms of the MoU, they (the opposition) should support us. The same process as last year's budget, they will give the support, in terms of the MoU, unless the election is held before the tabling of the budget," he said.
The MoU, which was signed in September last year, aims to bring stability and a new dimension to the country's politics. No end date has been set, and both parties agree to cooperate; support will be given to the prime minister until Parliament is dissolved.
-- BERNAMA
Political, economic, pandemic issues toughest challenges for PM Ismail Sabri
Bernama
Ogos 21, 2022 07:05 MYT
Political, economic, pandemic issues toughest challenges for PM Ismail Sabri
The one year as the prime minister proved to be the most challenging in Ismail Sabri's political career as he had taken over the nation's leadership at a time when the pandemic was still raging. - BERNAMA
PUTRAJAYA: Dealing with political instability, delicately balancing the country's economy and keeping people healthy during the COVID-19 pandemic were the toughest of challenges Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob faced as the prime minister.
The one year as the prime minister proved to be the most challenging in Ismail Sabri's political career. He had taken over the nation's leadership at a time when the pandemic was still raging, and its devastating effects are still being felt today.
Ismail Sabri is no stranger to hardship, having grown up in situations where the family had to deal with uncertainty where income was concerned. The Bera MP, therefore, understands perfectly the suffering the people had to go through at the height of the movement controls imposed to check the pandemic, from March 2020 until this March this year, especially those from the B40 group who faced the risk of losing jobs and livelihood.
"That was the most difficult and challenging period for me as I had to choose between lives and livelihood.
"The rest of the decisions were not too difficult for me, but the lockdown was truly a heavy one. I was fearful about job losses ... if the factories closed, how many would lose jobs," he said in 'An Interview with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob' on the theme "Inspirasi Setahun Keluarga Malaysia", at Seri Perdana.
Today marks the first anniversary of Ismail Sabri, 62, helming the 'Keluarga Malaysia' government.
Malaysia, since April, has been in the transition to endemic phase, an exit strategy that has allowed the full reopening of the country's borders and economic sectors.
In rejuvenating the economy, Ismail Sabri then had to deal with another challenge in the form of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, which affected the government's economic recovery plans.
"So, it proved to be quite difficult in the beginning. But, Alhamdulillah (Praise be to God), if you were to look at Bank Negara's announcement on Malaysia's GDP (Gross Domestic Product), we are the best in Southeast Asia and also when compared to the superpowers, economic giants such as China, Japan, the United States (and) Europe. We are far more ahead where GDP is concerned," he said.
Malaysia recorded an 8.9 per cent GDP growth in the second quarter of 2022. In the January-June period, the country's economy grew by 6.9 per cent.
Taking over the leadership reins at a time when the country was facing political instability, Ismail Sabri, who is an UMNO vice-president, said the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding on Transformation and Political Stability between the Federal Government and the opposition Pakatan Harapan (PH) was not a matter easily dealt with.
"... it was not easy because we are answerable to our (own) party (on why the MoU was needed). In Malaysia, we are accustomed to thinking that the opposition is the opposition, (and) the government is the government. (And that), the ruling party can never cooperate with the opposition," he said.
On the performance of the Cabinet ministers so far this year, the prime minister said he has yet to make an assessment but acknowledged that many issues such as the price of chicken and cooking oil, in addition to matters pertaining to economic recovery, had been successfully addressed.
"Not all of them were perfect; some were good, others underperformed. So, not really good. But we are looking at things as a whole. If many of the issues have been successfully resolved, then, of course, those were collective results coming from the administration as a whole.
"We consider this success as a collective effort; not merely attributed to any one individual in the Cabinet because Cabinet decisions are collective decisions. Even if you have been a (minister) for a year but hardly spoke a word at Cabinet (meetings), a decision made by the Cabinet is a collective decision that includes yours as well," he said.
On whether there is a need to appoint a deputy prime minister, Ismail Sabri said he was not hampered by the absence of a deputy for now as he had four senior ministers representing coalition parties to assist him.
-- BERNAMA
Entering 2nd year as PM, Ismail Sabri says lots more can and will be done for M'sians
Bernama
Ogos 20, 2022
Entering 2nd year as PM, Ismail Sabri says lots more can and will be done for M'sians
Entering his second year as prime minister, Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said today that he wants nothing but the best for the rakyat, adding that lots more need to be done in the interest and welfare of Keluarga Malaysia. - BERNAMA
KUALA LUMPUR: Entering his second year as prime minister, Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said today that he wants nothing but the best for the rakyat.
He said lots more need to be done in the interest and welfare of Keluarga Malaysia (the Malaysian Family), including in the field of education.
backup_ads
"As Prime Minister, I want the best for the rakyat. There is a lot more that can be done for the people in terms of welfare. We need more new policies, in education for example.
"My fervent hope is that we can make great strides forward for the people," he said during an interview, themed "Inspirasi Setahun Keluarga Malaysia" aired by local television stations, including Bernama TV, today.
Ismail Sabri said this when asked what he hoped to achieve in his second year as prime minister.
Tomorrow marks the first anniversary of Ismail Sabri, 62, helming the 'Keluarga Malaysia' government.
On Aug 21 last year, he took over the country's top post after Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin resigned as the eighth prime minister following a loss of majority support from Members of Parliament.
Meanwhile, when commenting on the involvement of youths in politics, Ismail Sabri said as a former student leader, he understood the struggles to uphold their ideals and was of the view that such idealism must not be curbed, but on the other hand, accepted and appreciated even.
"You cannot control the minds of young people and we cannot force them to accept what we want.
"We have to give them space and freedom to reason and give their views," he said.
-- BERNAMA
