Penang Deputy Cm Warns Harapan Against Rushing Into Quick Fix Csa

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Penang Deputy Chief Minister P Ramasamy has warned Pakatan Harapan from rushing into a "quick fix" confidence and supply agreement (CSA) between the government and opposition.
He described striking a CSA deal as a complicated matter that should not be rushed into. 
“There is no quick fix to CSA. There was a talk of compromise with the former prime minister Muhyiddin Yassin on the basis of some reforms, but Harapan vetoed the matter.
“There was simply (a) deficit of thrust. Once again, the new Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob has promised seven institutional reforms for Harapan to sign a CSA.
“I think Harapan, keeping in mind both the health and economy, might be thinking of signing the CSA. But I think accepting the offers and signing the agreement is not a simple straightforward affair,” he said in a statement today.
Ramasamy (above) added that although some within Harapan may be eager to conclude the agreement and move on, not all were open to accepting the CSA.
Other Harapan leaders have also been sceptical of the proposed CSA, including Iskandar Puteri MP Lim Kit Siang.
DAP had initially been the most receptive to a potential deal in exchange for reforms but the party stalwart recently said the proposed CSA was ‘slipping away’ after a series of questionable decisions by the PM.

DAP stalwart Lim Kit Siang (left) and Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin
On Sept 4, the government announced Muhyiddin’s appointment as the head of the National Recovery Council - which was reminiscent of his previous role.
Additionally, Attorney-General Idrus Harun claimed on the same day that there was no need for a confidence vote in the Dewan Rakyat - which gave an indication of the new government’s position on the matter.
The opposition cautioned that the PM's refusal to seek a confidence vote in the Dewan Rakyat could jeopardise any potential confidence and supply deal.
Ramasamy also felt that the matter of the confidence vote was not settled.
“It is not sure whether there will be a motion of confidence against Ismail Sabri. From a constitutional perspective, this is something that cannot be compromised.
“Is Harapan going to make the confidence motion a prerequisite before even thinking about the CSA?” he asked. 
A matter of trust 
The DAP lawmaker added that he was not against cooperation, especially in difficult times.
“Cooperation with the aim to tackle larger and persistent problems of the nation requires the sinking of differences between the government and the opposition. This is especially so when the government is hampered by (a) weak majority.
“The central and pivotal question to me is simply this - can the government be trusted not just on the seven reforms but whether it is prepared to undergo a confidence vote?” Ramasamy said. 
Two days ago, Ismail Sabri announced his proposed reforms, including the tabling of an anti-party hopping law, expediting the lowering of the voting age from 21 to 18, limiting the prime minister’s term to 10 years as well as equal treatment of opposition MPs on policy engagement and allocations. - Mkini

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