Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has reaffirmed his support for Anwar Ibrahim as prime minister, saying there is no reason for Barisan Nasional (BN) ministers to leave the Cabinet.
The BN chairman, however, said DAP ministers should follow the example of party secretary-general Loke Siew Fook and resign from the Cabinet.
Zahid said if DAP chairman and Digital Minister Gobind Singh Deo believed resignation was necessary, DAP ministers should be the ones to step down.
“Just don’t be ‘gila talak’ after resigning. We don’t want to be ‘gila talak’ like them,” he told reporters here today.
The Malay expression refers to someone who cannot accept a divorce and continues to pursue their former spouse.
Zahid responds to Gobind’s remarks
Earlier today, Gobind said Zahid could resign as deputy prime minister if he no longer had confidence in Anwar’s leadership.
Responding to Zahid’s suggestion that Parliament be dissolved instead of a Cabinet reshuffle, Gobind said Zahid and other Cabinet members should respect Anwar’s position as prime minister and resign if they no longer believed in his leadership.
BN maintains support for Anwar
Zahid said differences in direction among the unity government’s component parties at state level did not mean BN had withdrawn its support for Anwar as prime minister.
“It is true that we are not on the same page in Johor, Negeri Sembilan and Melaka. Every party in the unity government has the right to determine its own direction at state level, especially during elections.
“There is no question of us not supporting Anwar’s leadership at the federal level. In Cabinet meetings, not once has a BN minister disagreed with the unity government’s policies or the prime minister,” he said.
