Stability vital for growth

Tantalising treat: Ahmad Zahid giving durian to Chinese Ambassador Ouyang Yujing during Majlis Santunan Kasih Syawal at Sri Satria in Putrajaya. — SHAARI CHEMAT/The Star

PUTRAJAYA: Barisan Nasional is keen on maintaining the current political setup as long as it ensures national stability, says its chairman Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

To him, political stability is important to ensure continuous economic growth, the Deputy Prime Minister and Umno president said this in responding to a recent call by Pakatan Harapan to allow Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to continue as the Prime Minister for a second term.

“We are open to it. Umno and Barisan have been nice to our friends among the component parties. Although the 18 of us come from different political parties, our objective is the same.

“What’s important is political stability... The 16th General Election (which must be held before Feb 2028) will show us how political stability and unity among the 18 parties can be defended.

“We have a two-thirds majority (in Parliament) now; this must be maintained. There are many methods and approaches to it,” he said when met at a Hari Raya celebration at the DPM’s official residence here yesterday.

In a recent episode of Keluar Sekejap podcast, hosted by politicians Khairy Jamaluddin dan Shahril Hamdan, PKR secretary-general Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said Pakatan is hoping to see Anwar lead the country for another term, given that the latter is in good health.

Ahmad Zahid urged all 18 parties in the unity government to continue to work with each other in unison while pledging that Barisan and Umno would support the initiatives to maintain the government.

He also reminded leaders in the federal administration the need of having more job opportunities with dignified salaries for the people.

“Not just jobs with minimum pay but with premium wages. As we know, the framework for the civil servants’ salaries will be announced and, after 12 years, we are re-looking into the salary scheme which will motivate them to increase their productivity.

“With a good economy, I believe the private sector will follow suit.

“The same with new job opportunities in TVET (technical and vocational education and training) – they will be created with the presence of foreign investors.

“We can see here that this economic development is the result of political stability, which is why it must be maintained,” Ahmad Zahid said.