Cabinet ministers should step down too, says PM
Cabinet ministers should also offer to resign to allow Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to create his own team when he becomes the premier, said Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad (
photo
) today.
Mahathir was responding to a question whether his earlier suggestion to Umno leaders to step down applied to ministers as well.
"It (the suggestion) applies to everyone," he was quoted as saying in a Bernama report.
The 76-year-old premier added that this should be done before the next election - scheduled for next year - but did not elaborate.
Commenting on Umno leaders, Mahathir said: "They (Umno leaders) should also resign and leave it to the new leader to pick his men ... he may end up picking the same men."
Two Umno supreme council members - Pahang Menteri Besar Adnan Yaakob and Perlis Menteri Besar Shahidan Kasim - have already offered to step down.
Also offering to leave was Housing and Local Government Deputy Minister M Kayveas.
Mahathir, who has been prime minister for 21 years, announced last year he would step down in October this year and named Abdullah as his successor.
Asked today if he would remain in office if the economy stalls, the premier replied: "No. The economy is as good as it is now ... that's another person's job."
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