[UPDATED] I should have sacked rogue ministers, but I’m a nice guy: Ismail Sabri 

KUALA LUMPUR – Caretaker prime minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said he might have made a mistake by not sacking dissenting cabinet members who went against him in the decision to dissolve Parliament. 

This is in apparent reference to the 12 Perikatan Nasional (PN) ministers who penned a letter to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong objecting to the dissolution of Parliament and holding a general election this year. 

Speaking at an Umno event in Bagan Datuk today, Ismail Sabri noted that prior to the dissolution, he had personally raised the issue in two previous cabinet meetings, ostensibly to provide first-hand knowledge to his colleagues in the government. 

He said although there was opposition to his plan to call national polls, he had still decided to dissolve Parliament then.

“I told them, if you all don’t agree, I can just dissolve this cabinet, sack everyone. I can do that,” he said in his speech. 

“My mistake, I should have sacked them all. But I’m not that kind of person. I am a nice, soft-spoken guy.”

Ismail Sabri, who is Umno vice-president, said in the last cabinet meeting he had told ministers that regardless of whether the parties in the coalition government would clash in the general election, their relationship should remain once the polls are over. 

Previously on October 6, it was reported that 12 PN ministers had written a letter to the Agong opposing the dissolution of Parliament, citing the year-end flood season and the country’s economic recovery efforts as among their justifications to hold off the election.

Four days later, Ismail Sabri announced that Parliament was dissolved, effective immediately, and a day later explained that his decision was partly influenced by the letter to the king, which he said had caused political turmoil.

‘Evil DAP showing true colours with attempt to stop election’

In the same regard, Ismail Sabri also accused DAP of going against the Agong when one of its lawmakers, Charles Santiago, turned to the courts to stop the election, which had been consented to by the king.

The Umno vice-president pointed out that while he had given the advice to dissolve Parliament, ultimately the Agong had the final say on whether to approve the proposal, in line with Article 40(2) of the federal constitution which grants the king the discretion to make a decision on the matter.

“By taking the matter to court, whose power are they questioning? The one being challenged in court is the power of the Agong, not the prime minister, because the Agong has the final say.

“This is how evil DAP is. They are not respectful and loyal to the Agong. DAP has shown its true colours, who it really is. Even when it was in power for 22 months, it never respected the royal institution,” he said.

Ismail Sabri’s remark was in response to Santiago’s decision to file an injunction to stop the election, citing the rainy season and floods, and the incumbent Klang MP has sought a declaration that the dissolution of Parliament had contravened Article 40(1) of the constitution as the cabinet was not consulted.

Separately, in addressing Umno supporters today, Ismail Sabri said he saw the need to call for a snap election as, despite the party helming the federal administration, its lawmakers only represented 42 of the 115 government MPs.

“Although I (was) the prime minister, each time I (kept) asking, can we still hold on? If five MPs had withdrawn, the government would have collapsed at the time,” he noted.

“Our position was always unsafe. That is why this time, when I dissolved Parliament, we must make sure our party is the dominant party that will form (the new government).”

According to Ismail Sabri, Umno requires at least 80 seats to be sure of a stable government, excluding seats from Sabah and Sarawak. – The Vibes, October 17, 2022