Gobind: Zahid should resign rather than push for early polls

Digital Minister Gobind Singh Deo says Umno and Barisan Nasional should leave the unity government rather than pressure Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to dissolve Parliament.

KUALA LUMPUR: Digital Minister Gobind Singh Deo said today that Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, Umno and Barisan Nasional should leave the unity government rather than press for an early dissolution of Parliament.

Responding to the deputy prime minister’s call on Tuesday for Parliament to be dissolved rather than the Cabinet reshuffled, Gobind said Ahmad Zahid should resign if he had lost respect for the government and Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

Gobind’s DAP colleague, Anthony Loke, resigned as Transport Minister on Tuesday after former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak was granted house arrest in his SRC International case. Najib left Kajang prison for his home in Jalan Langgak Duta, where he will serve the remainder of his sentence until Aug 23, 2028, following payment of his RM50 million fine.

“What Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid said is completely inappropriate, especially as the deputy prime minister. If he does not have confidence in anyone’s leadership, that is up to him. He can resign as deputy prime minister,” Gobind said on the sidelines of AI Readiness Week.

“The prime minister holds the authority to make the decision (to dissolve Parliament). At the moment, the Cabinet is functioning well. Our country has a stable economy. We are in a position where we can, and we must, look at how we can move our country forward. There is no need for us to discuss matters regarding dissolution.

“If Umno and Barisan Nasional disagree, if they lack confidence, it is up to them to resign. There is no need to pressure the prime minister to dissolve Parliament. They have to respect the prime minister’s position.”

Gobind said Umno and Barisan Nasional MPs had been appointed to the Cabinet at the prime minister’s discretion.

“Show a little respect. If you have no confidence, do not ask the prime minister to dissolve Parliament. Just resign. It is that simple,” he said.

“If they are not happy, they should withdraw their support for the government.”

Asked whether he would replace Loke as Transport Minister, Gobind said he was unaware of any such decision.

On whether DAP had submitted any names to Anwar, he reiterated that the decision rested solely with the prime minister.

“That is a decision only the prime minister can make. Neither I nor DAP have a say in it,” he said.