PM never discussed Parliament dissolution date with Cabinet, says PN minister

A Perikatan Nasional (PN) minister today said that Ismail Sabri Yaakob had never discussed the date of dissolution for Parliament with his Cabinet, despite the prime minister's statement just days ago that he had brought up the issue twice. 

Abdul Latiff Ahmad, a minister in the Prime Minister's Department, said the Cabinet meetings throughout Ismail's tenure had always agreed through consensus on matters raised for discussion. 

"We never voted to determine any decision," he said. 

Adding that Ismail's Cabinet was comprised of various parties, he said it had only discussed matters of policy and never party politics. 

"We discussed preparations for the election as well as disaster preparations, the northeast monsoon, and preparations for the 2023 budget," he said. 

"In fact, the budget presentation was brought forward after obtaining the consent of the Cabinet. As I recall, it was discussed three times. But the prime minister never asked for a mandate from the Cabinet members about the date of dissolution for Parliament. 

"He said we would prioritise disaster preparations, the northeast monsoon, and the cost of goods and economy over the 15th general election (GE15)." 

Ismail said on Oct 17 that he had raised the dissolution of Parliament to his Cabinet twice.

He said he had done so in order to inform them of his intention, adding that he knew there would be different views on the matter. 

'We have dignity, too'

MalaysiaNow previously reported that the 12 ministers from PN had written to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong to voice their disagreement to calls by Umno leaders for the dissolution of Parliament to pave the way for GE15 this year.

They cited, among others, the Malaysian Meteorological Department's (MetMalaysia) forecast of heavy rain and floods due to a monsoon transition and the need for a focus on economic recovery.

Ismail in his speech on Oct 17 said he should have sacked the ministers in question, adding that this had been "his mistake". 

But Latiff said such remarks should not have been made at a political programme. 

"Of course we know that the prime minister has the power to hire and fire," he said. 

"But we, too, have our own dignity. There is no need to sack us, we could have resigned."

He also said that Ismail had kept his Cabinet members guessing, even on Oct 7, just three days before the dissolution of Parliament. 

"If the prime minister had clearly and sincerely stated his intention to dissolve Parliament, I believe the Cabinet members would have agreed and given the mandate to him."