KUALA LUMPUR – Umno’s Datuk Seri Shamsul Anuar Nasarah has resigned as energy and natural resources minister.
He said his decision to quit took into consideration his party’s decisions and stand.
“As an obedient and loyal member of Umno, I hereby resign as a federal cabinet member,” he said in a brief statement today.
“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.”
The announcement comes as the Umno Supreme Council convenes for an emergency meeting this evening, with attention focused on the emergency proclamation and related matters, as well as the postponement of the Parliament sitting.
This follows a brewing constitutional crisis between the government and Istana Negara after the Yang di-Pertuan Agong rebuked the Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin administration for announcing the revocation of emergency ordinances without first securing royal assent.
Shamsul, a three-term MP, is the first to resign from the embattled Muhyiddin’s cabinet.
The Perikatan Nasional government was rocked by Umno president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s announcement on July 8 that his party would pull support for the prime minister amid the country’s worsening Covid-19 situation.
However, the decision was met with disapproval from a number of the party’s lawmakers – the majority of whom hold government positions – as they continue to pledge their backing for Muhyiddin.
Umno is believed to be split into two camps: one firmly behind Zahid, and the other aligned with Muhyiddin and purportedly led by Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein.
On July 25, Zahid said the party has decided for all of its ministers, deputy ministers and heads of government-linked companies to relinquish their positions if the emergency ordinances are allowed to remain in effect beyond August 1. – The Vibes, August 3, 2021
