Umno fully behind Ismail Sabri to ensure a smooth administration, says Ahmad Zahid

KUALA LUMPUR: Umno will throw its full support on Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob to ensure a smooth process in government administration, says president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

He said that the party had agreed with six main terms and guidelines as discussed with the newly-appointed Prime Minister, who is also the party vice-president.

"To welcome the advice of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, to hold bipartisan cooperation across parties, to address the economic challenges, Covid-19 pandemic and the welfare of the people," he said in statement late Friday night (Aug 28).

Zahid also called on the new government to focus all of its efforts to tackle Covid-19 and improving the national vaccination process in order to achieve the herd immunity and to reduce the death toll.

He added that the current government should not be branded as the Perikatan government, but instead should be known as the “Malaysian Family” government as termed by the Prime Minister.

This is because the government was formed in a loose coalition among Barisan Nasional coalition parties, Perikatan Nasional, GPS and PBS, said Zahid.

Other terms included to fulfil the demands made by the rakyat including to improve stimulus packages, bank moratorium without accrued interest and a one-off withdrawal of i-Citra with a minimum of RM10,000, as well as assistance to those who are affected by the pandemic.

Umno also demanded the government to defend the role of parliamentary democracy as a vehicle of check and balance.

"Umno must be a pioneer in institutional reforms of various branches of the government," he said.