PETALING JAYA: Lawmakers from both sides of the political divide greeted the Yang di-Pertuan Agong’s call for political consensus and cooperation with enthusiasm.

       Datuk Mohamad Alamin praised the King who had called for a bipartisan cooperation among lawmakers.

       “This will be a new political landscape for the country,” said the Kimanis Umno MP.

       “We can now sit together and discuss ways to find solutions to the problems faced by the country including the health and economic crisis,” he said.

       “That is the message the King conveyed and we need to find ways to realise this aspiration.

       “I am confident the government and the opposition bloc will find a point so that they can work together,” he said.

       Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz said the question of tabling a vote of confidence in Parliament was no longer relevant following the King’s speech.

       “Because if it goes through and the Opposition continues to demand for it, then they are not heeding the King’s call,” the Padang Rengas MP said.

       Nazri said lawmakers should also support the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU)signed between the government and the Opposition.

       “It is in line with the King’s speech. It is right, because we are fighting Covid-19 and in the process of trying to recover our economy,” he said.

       “If all MPs are concerned about the rakyat, then they should support the MoU,” he added.

       Lukanisman Awang Sauni (GPS-Sibuti) said the bipartisan cooperation should also focus on equal funding for the respective service centres so that all the MPs could give the best service to their constituents.

       He said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob had also offered proposals to transform Parliament based on the King’s advice and that this would require the cooperation of all parties involved.

       “I hope that the transformation can be implemented smoothly,” he said.

       Bayan Baru PKR MP Sim Tze Tzin said the King wanted political stability with focus on the rakyat’s well-being.

       “Through consensus, both the government and Opposition will now be able meet each other halfway in achieving stability and reforms,” he added.

       Petaling Jaya PKR MP Maria Chin Abdullah described the King’s call as a good guide towards political cooperation between the government and Opposition.

       She said that the offers of reforms should extend beyond parliamentary and include issues affecting health, education and the economy.

       DAP veteran Lim Kit Siang said the cooperation should concentrate on fighting the Covid-19 pandemic for the next 10 to 18 months.

       “There should be institutional and parliamentary reforms so that the country can embark on economic and social recovery to save lives and livelihoods,” he said.