I WISH I could write like Tommy Thomas – in simple and clear proses. And candidly.

The preface alone suffices to hold me riveted to his book, but each chapter is a stand-alone read. Great credit to Tommy.

So, I skipped the pages for what Bridget Walsh calls the most riveting part – Tommy’s account of his time as attorney-general.

At page 472 – that’s more than nine-tenths of the book – on Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s resignation as prime minister, Tommy writes: “It must be kept in mind that his resignation was personal, only as prime minister. The resignation was confined to that office, not the entire government.”

However, when the prime minister resigns, the cabinet is dissolved immediately. Simply because the PM and the cabinet are a collective responsibility.

It is sink or swim together, or as the Three Musketeers would say: “All for one, one for all.”

Constitutionally, a minister other than the prime minister holds office at the pleasure of the king.

In factual terms, the minister holds office at the pleasure of the prime minister. When the prime minister resigns he tenders the resignation of his cabinet.

So, I must agree with the Chief Secretary to the Government Zuki Ali when he released a statement that “in line with the resignation of Dr Mahathir Mohamad as prime minister, the duties of members of the administration comprising the deputy prime minister, ministers, deputy ministers as well as political secretaries have ceased effective the same date, which is February 24, 2020.”

Not with Tommy. He is wrong. – February 5, 2021.

* Hafiz Hassan reads The Malaysian Insight.

* This is the opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insight. Article may be edited for brevity and clarity.