ABDUL Latiff Ahmad has lambasted caretaker Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob for stating that he could have sacked all 12 Perikatan Nasional (PN) ministers for sending a petition to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong objecting to the dissolution of parliament. 

Latiff, who is the caretaker special functions minister, criticised Ismail’s speech during the Barisan Nasional (BN) solidarity and political stability event at Bagan Datuk recently as uncalled for. 

“I have looked through his speech at BN’s event and I found some of his notes were untrue especially about what was discussed during the cabinet meeting. 

“In a cabinet meeting we discuss policies and never about political affairs and all decisions are made unanimously. We discussed the monsoon season and the budget 2023 but about GE15, nothing on the date for dissolution. 

“He did mention flood preparation and economic affairs but not about GE15,” said Latiff in a statement. 

The Bersatu man added that if Ismail had asked to dissolve parliament during the last cabinet meeting, every cabinet member would have agreed. 

“In fact, on the morning of October 7, a senior minister asked the PM, when is the dissolution. The PM was still unsure.” 

“To use the word ‘I could have sacked PN ministers’ in a cynical tone was uncalled for although we know he has the power to hire and fire. We can resign ourselves, no need to sack us.” 

“We are still members of a caretaker Cabinet, it’s not too late to fire us. Maybe the 9th prime minister can create history by firing his Cabinet in ‘injury time’,” he dared Ismail in a statement. 

On Monday, Ismail, who is the caretaker prime minister, said he made a “mistake” by not firing the 12 PN ministers who signed off on the letter to the King. 

However, the Umno vice-president said that he did not do so as he was a “nice and a gentle person”. 

The 12 PN ministers previously wrote a letter to the King to object to the dissolution of parliament. 

They said a general election should be held next year and not during the monsoon season. – October 19, 2022.