The political war of words between Umno Youth chief Datuk Dr Akmal Saleh and DAP deputy chairman Nga Kor Ming has intensified following Barisan Nasional’s (BN) overwhelming victory in the Johor state election, with Akmal demanding that Nga honour what he described as a resignation pledge made during the campaign.
In a Facebook post after BN secured a commanding 48 out of the 56 state seats contested, Akmal mocked the Housing and Local Government Minister by offering to help prepare his resignation letter.
“I can even help write your resignation letter,” Akmal said in his post, challenging Nga to stand by his earlier remarks.
Akmal was referring to unverified comments made by Nga during the election campaign, when the DAP leader was reported to have said he would resign from his party position if BN achieved a landslide victory by winning more than 40 seats in Johor.
BN not only surpassed that benchmark but delivered one of its strongest electoral performances in the state, winning 48 seats and securing a dominant two-thirds majority in the Johor assembly.
The result marked a major setback for Pakatan Harapan (PH), which was reduced to only eight seats, while Perikatan Nasional (PN) failed to win any seats in the state election.
Akmal’s challenge has since sparked debate over whether political leaders should be held accountable for statements made during election campaigns, particularly when such remarks are viewed as political commitments.
However, Nga has rejected the interpretation that he pledged to resign as minister if BN achieved a landslide victory. Instead, he clarified that his resignation remark was linked specifically to the possibility of former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak being released without serving what Nga considered an appropriate sentence for his conviction.
In a statement, Nga said his position was based on defending the integrity of the country’s judicial system.
He claims that what he said during the interview was his consistent position as an advocate and solicitor of the High Court of Malaya, which is that the integrity of the country's judicial system must be defended.
Nga argued that if Najib, who was convicted in the SRC International case related to the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) scandal, were released without serving a punishment commensurate with the offence of RM51.4 billion in 1MDB debt to Malaysians, it would undermine public confidence in the rule of law.
He added that his willingness to resign would only arise under such circumstances, describing it as a matter of principle rather than a personal or political issue.
When questioned by reporters after distributing aid to storm victims in Bercham, Nga avoided engaging directly with Akmal’s challenge and instead stressed that his priority remained serving the public.
“My heart is truly with the people. I can feel their pain and hardships. When I come to help, let us avoid all these political issues,” he said.
Nga also congratulated BN on its decisive victory, saying the huge mandate came with a heavy responsibility for the coalition to govern with integrity.
The controversy highlights the continuing political tensions after Johor’s election, where BN’s resurgence has reshaped the state’s political landscape. While Akmal insists Nga should fulfil his alleged pledge, Nga maintains that his statement has been taken out of context.
As post-election battles move from the campaign trail to political accountability, the dispute has become another test of how politicians defend their words after the votes have been counted.
By: Kpost
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