Kuala Lumpur, Aug. 22: Malaysia’s new Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob struck a conciliatory tone in his first national address Sunday, saying he would embrace the opposition in an effort to tackle the runaway pandemic and revive a slumping economy.

A day after being sworn in, Ismail said the political battles that led to a change of government twice since the 2018 elections had been detrimental to the country and distressed the public. “Let us move forward. Let us stem this grab for political power,” he said, urging all lawmakers to find common ground and work together to help the nation recover. The new PM, 61, said he would invite the opposition to be part of the National Recovery Council and the committee combating Covid.-AP