Politics · Malaysia Bureau
Loke challenges BN to leave government, citing fear of lost power
DAP Secretary-General Anthony Loke has hit back at Barisan Nasional chairman Ahmad Zahid Hamidi over calls for early parliamentary dissolution, suggesting the coalition lacks courage to relinquish ministerial positions.
LSN Malaysia ·
Loke's rebuttal came after Zahid proposed dissolving Parliament rather than proceeding with a Cabinet reshuffle, a position the DAP leader characterised as reluctance to step down from government.
The DAP secretary-general suggested that Barisan Nasional's preference for early elections over a reshuffle revealed the coalition's anxiety about losing its grip on power and ministerial portfolios. Loke argued that if Zahid was genuinely confident in BN's electoral prospects, the coalition would be willing to leave government voluntarily.
The exchange reflects escalating tensions within the ruling Pakatan Harapan alliance, particularly regarding the timing and mechanics of Cabinet changes. Both major blocs have been jostling for influence over the government's direction and composition in recent weeks.
The dispute underscores deeper fault lines in Malaysia's political landscape, with questions remaining about whether a reshuffle or dissolution will proceed and what configuration any new government might take.