DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke has challenged Barisan Nasional (BN) Members of Parliament to quit their cabinet positions if they are unhappy with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s leadership, instead of continuing to criticise the unity government while remaining in power.
Speaking at a ceramah last night, Loke made the remarks during his first public appearance since stepping down as transport minister.
He said those who disagreed with Anwar should uphold the principle of collective responsibility by relinquishing their positions, pointing out that he had already done so.
“If you are not happy, then leave. If you disagree with the prime minister, resign. I have done so. What about you, my friend?” he said.
Loke questioned why certain parties continued attacking the Prime Minister and voicing dissatisfaction with government policies while still attending Cabinet meetings chaired by Anwar every Wednesday and Friday.
“Every day, you voice your disagreement, while your party attacks the Prime Minister day and night, claiming that one thing or another is wrong. Yet, you remain in the government.
“Every Wednesday and Friday, you attend cabinet meetings chaired by Anwar Ibrahim. What is this all about?” he added.
The Seremban MP also questioned why parties unhappy with government policies and the allocation of funds to certain ministries continued to remain in the administration rather than leaving.
“There are parties that are dissatisfied and criticise the government every day, questioning why certain ministries are not receiving allocations and raising other issues. Why are they still in the government? Why have they not left?” he said.
Loke also called on voters in Melaka to use their ballots in the upcoming state election to send a strong message to those pressuring Anwar to dissolve Parliament and pave the way for a general election.
He stressed that the mandate to decide on Parliament’s dissolution remained in Anwar’s hands despite pressure from certain quarters.
“Although certain quarters are putting pressure on the prime minister to dissolve Parliament, we want to remind them that the mandate remains in Anwar’s hands.
“If you are unhappy, you can leave,” he said.
Despite resigning as a minister, Loke pledged that all DAP MPs would continue supporting Anwar, insisting that he would remain Prime Minister.
Although Loke did not name anyone directly, his remarks appeared to be aimed at BN chairman Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
Zahid had previously said dissolving Parliament and returning the mandate to the people would be preferable to a Cabinet reshuffle, although he maintained that there was no need for such a reshuffle at present.
Loke resigned as transport minister with immediate effect following the Kuala Lumpur High Court’s decision allowing former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak to serve the remainder of his prison sentence under house arrest.
He said his resignation was consistent with the principled position he had announced earlier.
