Salleh to Najib critics: Quit Cabinet
Those who don’t have confidence in PM should leave, under Westminister style of collective responsibility, he says
(Free Malaysia Today) – Sabah Umno chief Salleh Said Keruak has urged federal ministers to leave the Cabinet if they no longer agreed with prime minister Najib Razak.
Wading into the current struggle between Dr Mahathir Mohamad, who wants Najib to resign as prime minister and Umno leader, Salleh said it was time members of the Cabinet took a stand.
“It is only proper that those Cabinet members who no longer have confidence in the Prime Minister resign from their posts so that the Prime Minister is free to appoint new members who share his vision and mission,” he said today in a blog posting.
He said Cabinet members shared collective responsibility on all decisions made.
They could not later say that any decision has been made only by the Prime Minister and they had not agreed.
“They have to show they do not agree by resigning, not by keeping quiet and then deny all liability later,” he said, pointing out that this was the spirit of the Westminister system of government.
“The Cabinet works with the Prime Minister or leaves. They cannot remain and at the same time be at odds with the Prime Minister.”
Salleh gave historical examples of previous Cabinet resignations on principle.
