(Seremban, July 19) Barisan Nasional deputy president and Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan declared today that Mohamad Hasan is ready to resign if Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim orders him to do so, responding calmly to a sharp warning from the PM that any minister, deputy minister or senior government official who uses their position to attack coalition partners during the state election campaign will be required to step down.
Anwar issued the warning after attending the Madani Kita community programme in Ipoh earlier on Thursday, saying he had spoken with Deputy Prime Ministers Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof the previous day before making the formal reminder. He stated clearly that those holding federal government positions cannot exploit those roles to attack their own cabinet allies on the campaign trail, turning an election platform into a stage for political attacks against partners within the same coalition. He warned that anyone who does so will be asked to resign. In a phrase that captured the essence of his position, Anwar said that state-level competition must stay at the state level.
Mohamad Hasan, who is also a candidate for the Ayer Panas state seat in the current election, responded to media questions after attending a campaign event at Tunku Club Garden in Seremban. He maintained that BN candidates had not made any negative remarks about coalition allies and had only been conveying messages to voters in the course of normal campaigning. He said the party had not targeted any individual. But on the question of whether he would resign if ordered to, Mohamad Hasan said he was ready to resign if the prime minister gave such a direction, and that he would have no objection to complying.
Mohamad Hasan also addressed calls by the Pakatan Harapan Youth wing for all BN ministers and deputy ministers to resign over BN's cooperation with Perikatan Nasional during the state election campaign. He said the matter would be left to the prime minister to decide, and that BN would not take unilateral action. He also urged voters to be rational and to avoid believing in rumours, pointing to the 2018 general election as an example of how the spread of misinformation had contributed to BN's defeat.
In his capacity as Foreign Minister, Mohamad Hasan disclosed that he would be travelling to the Philippines the following day to attend an ASEAN-related ministerial meeting, where discussions would cover the South China Sea situation, the West Asia conflict and the Gaza humanitarian crisis, as well as ASEAN food security policy — demonstrating his continued commitment to national duty even during a busy campaign period.
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