KUALA LUMPUR – Another Umno leader has resigned from the Perikatan Nasional cabinet, this time Datuk Seri Noraini Ahmad, who today announced that she is relinquishing her post as higher education minister.
In a brief statement today, the Parit Sulong MP thanked the prime minister for her appointment, but said she will obey the directive issued by the Supreme Council on Tuesday.
“The party’s decision will be realised when Parliament convenes.
“I believe we have done the best we can to manage the nation as it faces the Covid-19 pandemic, which has affected lives across the world.
“These efforts will continue even though I’m no longer a cabinet member.”
Noraini is the second Umno minister to resign this week.
On Tuesday, Datuk Seri Shamsul Anuar Nasarah quit as energy and natural resources minister.
He said his decision took into consideration Umno’s decisions and stand.
“As an obedient and loyal member of Umno, I hereby resign as a federal cabinet member.
“My focus now is on my duties as Lenggong MP, and to assist in strengthening the party as it faces an increasingly challenging political situation.”
His resignation came shortly before party president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s announcement the same day on pulling support for PN and Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.
He said the council agreed to no longer defend Muhyiddin and the government following their “failure” to table and vote on emergency ordinances before August 1 as decreed by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.
He added that he has enough statutory declarations from among his party’s MPs to see to the PN administration’s collapse.
A letter has been sent to the Agong informing His Majesty of the party’s withdrawal of support for Muhyiddin as prime minister, he said.
The MPs who joined Zahid in the live address were Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said (Pengerang), Datuk Ahmad Jazlan Yaakub (Machang), Ramli Mohd Nor (Cameron Highlands), Tan Sri Noh Omar (Tg Karang), Datuk Seri Abdul Azeez Abdul Rahim (Baling), Tan Sri Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah (Gua Musang), Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan (Pontian), Datuk Ahmad Nazlan Idris (Jerantut), Datuk Mohd Nizar Zakaria (Parit) and Datuk Seri Najib Razak (Pekan).
Deputy president Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan, too, was present. – The Vibes, August 6, 2021
