PETALING JAYA: Opposition parties are willing to work with the new Federal Government to help the country overcome the Covid-19 scourge and economic slump.

       Parti Amanah Negara deputy president Datuk Seri Salahuddin Ayub said the party was willing to be “part of the team” under a national effort to address both the pandemic and the resulting economic woes.

       “It is possible for us to give our support but only after a briefing, negotiation and consultation process.

       “This can be done if it is for the sake of the nation and rakyat,” he said.

       Salahuddin noted that it would be apt if Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz reached out to Amanah on the matter.

       “It would be good if the Finance Minister called us for a briefing on how to be part of the team. This way, we will also be able to share our views and give some input,” he added.Meanwhile, PKR strategic communications director Fahmi Fadzil said Pakatan Harapan would decide on this issue soon.

       “It is not about what PKR’s stand or position is,” said the Lembah Pantai MP.

       DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng said DAP was “willing to look to the future and work with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob in facing the pandemic”.

       The party, he said, would work with Ismail Sabri on a National Covid-19 Reset Plan and a RM45bil Economic Turnaround Plan to normalise the country and economy.

       Lim noted in a statement yesterday that the Reset Plan should include the World Health Organisation’s recommendations on accelerating vaccination, mass test screening and implementation of the Find, Test, Trace, Isolate and Support plus vaccination.

       The Economic Turnaround Plan, he added, should focus on “direct, regular financial aid and injection of funds instead of the orthodox one-off approach and indirect assistance of loans and guarantees”.

       However, Lim stressed that this did not mean that Pakatan and DAP were forming a unity government with the Prime Minister.

       Amanah, PKR and DAP make up the backbone of the Pakatan Opposition bloc.

       On Aug 22, Ismail Sabri extended an offer to the Opposition to be part of the National Recovery Council and the Special Committee on Covid-19 when addressing the nation for the first time following his appointment as Prime Minister.