(Seremban, July 19) The political temperature in Malaysia's unity government rose a notch on Thursday when Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim issued a direct warning to ministers not to use their government positions to attack coalition allies during the state election campaign — and Barisan Nasional deputy president Mohamad Hasan responded by saying he is ready to resign if the PM orders it, while insisting BN had not done anything improper on the campaign trail.
Anwar's warning came at a post-event press conference in Ipoh, where he told reporters that any minister, deputy minister or senior official currently holding a federal government position who crosses the line by using that position to attack cabinet coalition partners will be asked to step down. He said the reminder followed a call with both his deputy prime ministers the previous day, and that the message had been communicated to all candidates currently serving in government. He characterised the principle concisely: the boundaries of state-level competition should not be extended into the federal coalition relationship.
Mohamad Hasan, who is both BN's deputy president and Malaysia's Foreign Minister, and who is standing in the Ayer Panas state seat, spoke to reporters in Seremban after a campaign event at Tunku Club Garden. He said BN campaigns had involved communicating the party's message to voters, not attacking allies, and that no individual had been personally targeted. When asked whether he would resign if instructed to, Mohamad Hasan said he is ready to resign — Mohamad Hasan is ready to resign if PM Anwar gives that instruction, and he would act accordingly.
He treated the PH Youth call for all BN ministers to resign as a matter for the prime minister to resolve, not something for BN to react to unilaterally. He also took the occasion to urge voters to reason carefully and not fall for rumours, citing the cautionary example of 2018 when a wave of misinformation had played a significant role in undermining support for BN.
On a separate note, Mohamad Hasan confirmed he would be leaving for the Philippines the next day to attend ASEAN-related ministerial meetings, with the South China Sea, the West Asian conflict and Gaza situation, and ASEAN food security all on the agenda — a reminder that his duties as Malaysia's top diplomat continue regardless of the demands of the election campaign.
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