PUTRAJAYA, April 17 — Former prime minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob is going against the Yang di-Pertuan Agong’s wishes by continuing to condemn and talk ill of the coalition government under Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, Transport Minister Anthony Loke said today.

Loke, who is also DAP secretary-general, was responding to Ismail Sabri’s reported comments earlier today, in which the former Umno vice-president described the alliance between Pakatan Harapan and Barisan Nasional as a "forced marriage” that would soon break up.

"In any relationship we try to strengthen it. Right now, we’re trying to strengthen our unity so those talking about friction must want so see friction.

"Firstly the concept of marriage in politics is not applicable. Our cooperation was made to form a stable government and this cooperation was encouraged by Agong.

"So I want to remind Ismail Sabri that this government formed at the Agong’s advice, and as a party that upholds loyalty to the King, we will stay true to his wishes.

"I don’t know what Ismail Sabri’s intentions are by saying such things. As a former prime minister he seems to want to see us break up.

"However, we as a government do not discuss issues such as friction or breaking up as a coalition. Our meetings are filled with discussions on how to ease the people’s problems,” Loke told a news conference at the Transport Ministry here.