DAP’s Nga Kor Ming continued to draw brickbats over his recent remarks that he would be the first minister to resign if Umno secured a landslide victory in the July 11 Johor election.
Melaka Barisan Nasional (BN) chief, Datuk Seri Ab Rauf Yusoh, agreed with the statement by BN Deputy Chairman, Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan, who told Nga to resign immediately over his remarks.
Ab Rauf, who is also the Melaka Chief Minister and Umno chief, said that the decision to resign is an individual's right and no party can stop someone from doing so if they really want to.
"When he says he wants to resign, who is stopping him from resigning? Just resign.
"If he wants to resign, no one is telling him not to resign, and no one is stopping him. That's his right," he said on the Housing and Local Government Minister's statement expressing his intention to resign.
Mohamad earlier said that BN challenged Nga to fulfil his intention to resign if BN won the Johor State Election (PRN) and former prime minister, Datuk Seri Najib Razak was released.
According to him, the challenge was made in line with Nga's own statement expressing his willingness to step down.
"I do not like to attack individuals. But if he keeps challenging us and says he wants to resign, then go ahead and resign immediately.
"In fact, we've been waiting for him to do so," Mohamad said.
Nga had also hinted that DAP would withdraw from the Unity Government if that happened because it was described as a 'red line' for the party.
Nga also claimed that Johor Umno had repeatedly voiced its desire for Najib to be released early with the slogan 'Umno wins big, Najib goes home'.
Ab Rauf also cautioned that the Melaka state election cannot be used as a field of provocation that can disrupt public order; instead, the democratic process must take place in a peaceful and controlled environment.
He said that although the people are free to have different parties, views, and political choices, aspects of security, the well-being of the people and the stability of the state must always be a priority. – July 1, 2026
