Sabah and Sarawak, as the backbone of BN, must be consulted before the prime minister is changed said Kota Belud MP Abdul Rahman Dahlan.

"Changing the prime minister of Malaysia is also the business of the people  of Sabah and Sarawak.

"Has anyone asked our opinion? Don't just simply change the prime minister (without asking us)," he said at a press conference in Kuala Lumpur today.

He warned that there would be repercussions if East Malaysia was not consulted on the change.

Rahman's comments come as pressure mounts against Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak to quit office.

The Housing and Local government minister ( photo ) said this when asked about the embattled prime minister's pledge for greater autonomy in Sabah and Sarawak.

Rahman welcomed the move and hailed Najib as the greatest prime minister to have helped East Malaysia.

"This is what we have been waiting for since Merdeka.

"This is why I say that no other prime minister has served, aided, given ideas and cooperation more than Najib.

"That's a fact, I'm not just saying that for anything," he said.

Najib last night promised to grant Sabah and Sarawak more autonomy by empowering state government departments, and reducing the powers of certain federal departments.

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