By Iylia Marsya Iskandar
KUALA LUMPUR, 22 August 2021: Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob today called on Members on Parliament to unite for the “Malaysian Family” in ensuring the country’s recovery from the health and economic crises suffered following the pandemic.
In his maiden address as the country’s ninth Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri who is also Member of Parliament for Bera (Pahang), said the recovery can be achieved if all Members of the Parliament either in the opposition or the government side adopted an open heart and mind as well as finding a common ground to rebuild the nation from the shambles of the crises.
He said that the common enemy is COVID-19 with the world facing a critical situation posed by an ever-evolving virus, from an alpha variant to a beta variant and now the latest, the lambda variant.
“Thus, let us move forward. We must stamp out this grab for political power. Let us as one big family comprising civil servants, private sector workers, and the self-employed repair, heal and help our nation to recover,” he said.
“We need to unite to save our family, that is the Malaysian family,” he said in his live speech telecast across major television networks.
The term “Malaysian Family”, according to the Prime Minister, best reflects the people of the nation as it transcends across boundaries of religion, race and ethnicity.
“We do realise the existence of inter-marriage families of various races and religions which possess strong family bonds. Thus, the concept of the “Malaysian Family” is akin to the strength of a nation bound together by such values,” he said.
“Every single one of you resembles my very own family – regardless of age differences. We complement each other and are in need of one another as part of a single body,” he said.
He added that he realises the hardships, the sufferings, and difficulties that have been afflicted in the nation.
“Some have lost their livelihoods, some of their ability to put food on the table and many are jobless,” the Prime Minister said.
He added: “I understood the hardship of having to struggle for even a mouthful of rice since I was brought up in a poor farmer family. Therefore, I solemnly understood the difficulties that the people face during this economic crisis brought about by the pandemic.”
To ensure that sufficient steps are taken, he emphasised that henceforth, the strategies of the previous government will be enhanced by securing collective views of Public Health experts.
“The implementation will be carried out via strategic inter-governmental cooperation and with involvement of all stakeholders from both public and private sectors in order to ensure our national health care system is re-stabilised,” he added.
As part of the Malaysian family, the Prime Minister has also pledged to pay attention to the voices of the youth during his administration.
Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri said that the voices and opinions of the youth is greatly needed to reach the objective of this government.
“To the young people out there, worry not, your involvements are highly appreciated, and it is my fervent hope that you will be together with this government in ensuring the success of our national recovery agenda,” he said.
Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri said that together with the government, he would build an administrative team that will help the country recover from both the economic and health crises.
“I pledge to do my best so that the trust placed in my team and me is not misplaced. This aspiration can only be attained with the cooperation of all civil servants who are the backbone of our national administration.
“Let us work together as one big Malaysian Family to restore Malaysia to her level of prosperity that we were once accustomed to. I solemnly pledge to work with the people,” he said.***