KOTA KINABALU - There is no expiration date for the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on the Transformation and Political Stability between the federal government and Pakatan Harapan (PH) regarding the opposition's support for Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob.
The matter was clarified by MoU Negotiation and Implementation Committee member Tan Sri Annuar Musa as many parties have misunderstood about the MoU having an expiry date.
"It is a misunderstanding. The MoU does not have a 'deadline' but what we do have is an election date which is agreed before the end of July.
"But the MoU between MPs including the opposition with the government especially the Prime Minister has no expiration date and it is an MoU giving support to the Prime Minister until the Parliament is dissolved.
"It should be understood that the deadline is an understanding that the Parliament will not be dissolved before July 31," he told reporters after a dinner event in conjunction with the Communications and Creative Industry Digital Economy Council (MEDIKK) meeting, here, last night.
He said this when asked by reporters whether they were prepared for the 15th General Election (GE15), including after the end of the MoU with the opposition.
He further explained that the support for the Prime Minister from the government and opposition was until the Parliament is dissolved.
"So when Parliament is dissolved, it is up to the Prime Minister and also the political leaders to decide," he said.
Prior to that, the Ketereh MP also agreed that GE15 should not be held too late or too early because many factors needed to be considered first.
"I agree, it shouldn’t be held too late so that we don’t give many advantages to the parties that we are competing against.
"At the same time, it could not be held too early if we are not ready. That is why I agree with Umno president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and also the Prime Minister who agreed that the election should be expedited and not delayed once we are ready," he said.