Strange when PM persuades UMNO ministers to stay in Cabinet - Anwar Ibrahim

KUALA LUMPUR: Opposition Leader, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, feels it is strange to see the action of Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin to persuade ministers from UMNO not to resign as ministers.

According to him, it is a strange thing when a Prime Minister from another party persuades ministers from a different party not to leave the Cabinet.

He explained that even if they did not resign, that did not change the fact that the current government has lost its legitimacy and support.

“Kit Siang (DAP veteran, Lim Kit Siang) mentioned that the ministers have been persuaded by the Prime Minister not to leave (the government). That's a strange thing, the other party that was persuading.

“But it's okay, that's his question but even without that (resignation), the legitimacy of the government is still a question mark.

"That's why people don't dare come. Then there is no focus on investment, (investor) confidence is all gone,” he said in a press conference after visiting Teater Impian, a gallery that displays the history of DAP Advisor, Lim Kit Siang, here on Wednesday.

Also present were Kit Siang, DAP National Socialist Youth Chief (DAPSY), Howard Lee Chuan How and Batu Member of Parliament, P. Prabakaran.

Muhyiddin on Wednesday chaired a Cabinet meeting in Putrajaya which was also attended by Finance Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz, Senior Defense Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob and International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali.

However, the agenda of the meeting has yet to be confirmed as no relevant official statement has been issued so far.

Based on his Facebook sharing today, several ministers from the UMNO were seen present at the meeting, including Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein and the Federal Territories Minister Tan Sri Annuar Musa.

Earlier, Muhyiddin said in a statement, all ministers from UMNO agreed to remain in the Perikatan Nasional (PN) government Cabinet.

The Prime Minister said the decision was reached after his meeting with the ministers on Monday.