PETALING JAYA: Perikatan Nasional believes the appointment of Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob as the ninth Prime Minister will stop the politicking and enable the government to fully focus on stability and the welfare of the people.

       Perikatan secretary-general Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainuddin said the appointment of the former deputy prime minister from the previous administration would ensure the continuity of programmes and plans already in place to fight the Covid-19 pandemic.

       He said Perikatan hailed the appointment of the Bera MP, in accordance with Articles 40(2)(a) and 43(2)(a) of the Federal Constitution.

       “Perikatan believes that his appointment would be able to stop the political turmoil and unite all quarters to once again focus on the agenda involving the welfare of the rakyat, especially on the formation of a stable government.

       “All Perikatan MPs from Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu), PAS and Sabah STAR stand together with Ismail Sabri.

       “We are confident that his appointment will ensure the continuity of the policies, plans and aims of the Perikatan government, especially on the recovery of the country from the impact of Covid-19,” he said in a statement yesterday.

       Hamzah also thanked Bersatu president and former prime minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin for leading the country and managing the pandemic as the eighth premier before resigning on Aug 16.