The PH presidential council, which disclosed this today, said it “took note” of Ismail’s statement on Thursday that a new MoU would not be signed.

It said, however, that the MoU signed on Sept 13, 2021 would continue to be in force as long as Parliament had not been dissolved.

In a statement, the council also said it was “very happy and proud” with the passing of the historic anti-hopping bill yesterday, adding that the public’s confidence in the election process and democracy would begin to recover.

However, it said there was still work to be done to correct the political and democratic situation in the country, as well as to ensure that “treacherous episodes” like the Sheraton Move would not happen again in the future.

“With the passing of this constitutional amendment, 15 of the 18 items agreed in this MoU have been implemented, equivalent to 83.3%,” it said.

It said the items yet to be implemented were a two-term (10-year) limit for the prime minister, reinstating the Parliamentary Services Act, and amendments to the parliamentary Standing Orders to ensure proceedings were carried out in a more systematic and smooth manner.

It also said the fourth item in the MoU – judicial independence – must be implemented at all times.

The council called on its representatives in the steering committee to set up a meeting with their government counterparts to “examine the matters” raised by Ismail, including those related to political funding.

The statement was signed by PKR president Anwar Ibrahim, Amanah president Mohamad Sabu, DAP secretary-general Loke Siew Fook and Upko president Madius Tangau.

Ismail had said on Wednesday that Umno had decided against extending the MoU and, as such, he would abide by his party’s decision. He is an Umno vice-president.

While the MoU does not have an expiry date, the government and PH agreed not to hold the 15th general election before July 31.