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

       In a statement issued after the swearing-in ceremony of Ismail today (Aug 21), Perikatan party secretary-general Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainuddin said that with the appointment of the former deputy prime minister, Ismail Sabri would be able to ensure continuity of the programmes and plans that are already in place to fight the Covid-19 pandemic.

       “The Perikatan party hails the King for appointing Bera MP Ismail as the ninth Prime Minister in accordance with the Federal Constitution Articles 40(2)(a) and 43(2)(a).

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

       “In line with that, all MPs of Perikatan Nasional party from Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu), PAS and Star stand together with the new prime minister Ismail Sabri.

       “We are confident that his appointment would ensure the continuity of policies, plans and aims of the Perikatan government especially in the recovery of the country from the Covid-19 impacts,” said Hamzah.

       He also thanked former Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, who is also Bersatu president, for leading the country and managing the pandemic as the eight premier before he resigned on Aug 16.

       Ismail Sabri took over the post from Muhyiddin, after securing a majority of 114 MPs from Barisan Nasional and Perikatan MPs.