Najib’s Cabinet shares a collective responsibility
Salleh Said Keruak
When Tun Dr Ismail Abdul Rahman did not agree with Tunku Abdul Rahman’s decisions regarding various issues he resigned from the government.
Shahrir Samad had his differences with two Prime Ministers so he resigned when he could no longer agree with the Prime Minister and even refused to join the Cabinet when offered a post.
In more recent times Zaid Ibrahim resigned from Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi’s Cabinet when he did not agree with the ISA detentions of critics to the government.
In Malaysia such incidences are not that common but in other countries it is very normal for one to resign if one cannot agree with the Prime Minister’s policies or actions.
Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak is currently under attack by no other than the person who forced the resignation of the previous Prime Minister. Dr Mahathir himself admitted this in his talk yesterday. And Dr Mahathir also said that Najib, too, should resign.
It is time that the Cabinet took a stand on this matter. The Cabinet is appointed by the Prime Minister and serves at the pleasure of the Prime Minister. The Prime Minister has the right to reshuffle his Cabinet, drop certain members of the Cabinet, and appoint new Cabinet members.
