No need to dissolve Parliament if DAP quits govt posts, says PKR leader

PKR deputy secretary-general Saifuddin Shafi Muhammad said there is no need to dissolve Parliament if DAP leaders give up their government positions, describing a proposal by PAS assistant secretary-general Khairul Faizi Ahmad Kamil as not fully thought out.

"The unity government was formed based on public mandate and should be allowed to continue until the end of its full term, especially given its proven track record in driving the national economy," he said in a statement today.

"If the DAP grassroots decide that their leaders must leave their government positions, the situation will remain stable as the party's MPs are still part of the government bloc."

DAP secretary-general Loke Siew Fook previously said the party's congress on Aug 16 would decide whether its leaders should resign from their government positions.

He said the matter would be decided through a secret ballot, and that he would respect the outcome even if delegates reject the position preferred by the party leadership, which is for its leaders to remain in government.

In a Facebook post yesterday, Khairul said Malaysians must be given a chance to decide on a new direction for the nation if DAP removes its leaders from the Cabinet.

He said such a move would not merely constitute a Cabinet reshuffle but would also signal that the unity government had lost cohesion.

"How can a government claim to be stable when the second-largest party in Pakatan Harapan refuses to carry the responsibility of governing the country?" he asked.

Saifuddin nonetheless defended the possible move by DAP, saying it would be an internal strategic decision to refocus efforts to strengthen the party.

"Given that it has more than two-thirds of MPs, the government will have no trouble filling the required ministerial posts," he said.

Saifuddin also said the possible lack of DAP representatives in the government would not negatively impact the administration, and was being used as an excuse to make unreasonable claims.