“Just Kidding”: Caretaker PM Ismail Sabri Says Sacking 12 PN MPs Was Just A Joke

By Quinny Tan  •  20 Oct 2022 in News

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A few days ago, caretaker Prime Minister Ismail Sabri made a statement saying that he should’ve laid off 12 Perikatan Nasional (PN) ministers.

This was because they had gone to the Yang Di-Pertuan Agong with a letter stating that they are opposed to the dissolution of the Parliament. Read that full story here.

Yesterday, he took back his original statement and retracted the sacking remark, pleading that it was merely a joke.

“Since he’s still in the (caretaker) Cabinet and hasn’t been sacked yet, that means I was just kidding,” said Ismail Sabri.

This is apparently in response to caretaker Special Functions Minister Abdul Latiff Ahmad who hit out at Ismail over the remarks.

3. “Memang kita tahu perdana menteri mempunyai kuasa ‘hire and fire’, namun kami pun ada maruah, tidak perlu pecat kami, kami pun boleh letak jawatan lebih awal,” he said.

“Kami masih lagi anggota Kabinet ‘caretaker’. Masih belum terlambat untuk dipecat.”

— BFM News (@NewsBFM) October 19, 2022

“It is true that we know the prime minister has the power to ‘hire and fire’, but we also have dignity, there is no need to fire us, we can resign early,” said Abdul Latiff.

“We are still members of the ‘caretaker’ Cabinet. It’s not too late to get fired.”

Abdul Latiff, who is from Perikatan Nasional, says Ismail told the Cabinet to focus on preparations for the monsoon season and inflation-related issues, instead of GE15.

Prior to this, Ismail Sabri’s original statement includes the fact that he “told them if they do not agree, I have the power to sack everyone.”

He also admitted to receiving opposition to his plan to call national polls when he brought up the matter during two Cabinet meetings.

Statements by politicians on all sides have been heating up as Malaysia gears for the upcoming general election on 19 November. Make sure you register to vote, as nominations will be announced on 5 November.