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CALLS for ministers or political leaders to resign should not be used as a political weapon or a way to create public perception, a PKR leader said, stressing that such decisions must be driven by principle and responsibility.
Dr Sathia Prakash Nadarajan said resignations were serious matters involving accountability, trust and the responsibility owed to the people, and should not be reduced to repeated public challenges or political posturing.
“Resigning is not something that should be treated as a political game, an open challenge or a tool to build perception,” he said in a statement.
He said if a leader genuinely believed that resignation was necessary based on principle, the decision should be made clearly and responsibly rather than becoming an issue repeatedly debated in the public sphere.
His remarks came amid recent exchanges involving Datuk Dr Akmal Saleh and Housing and Local Government Minister Nga Kor Ming, after calls for resignations were raised over political disagreements.
Sathia said the public had the right to question whether such demands were driven by genuine principles or were part of a wider political strategy.
He also criticised what he described as a decline in political civility, following remarks comparing Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to an animal-related term, saying criticism remained an important part of democracy but should be accompanied by responsibility and respect.
“Differences in opinion are part of democracy. Strong debates are also necessary. But the way we communicate reflects the maturity and values of a leader,” he stressed.
Sathia added that Anwar understood that a strong government was not one that rejected criticism, but one that was willing to listen, address weaknesses and continue working for the people.
However, he said Malaysian politics needed to move towards a more mature culture where leaders focused on policies, solutions to public concerns and the country’s future rather than competing over who could make the strongest statements.
“If leaders truly want to resign, they should do so because of principle and responsibility. It should not become political drama that ultimately confuses the people,” he said.
Sathia said voters would ultimately judge leaders not only by their words on political platforms, but also by their actions, consistency and ability to uphold the trust placed in them.
“Politics should not be about who speaks the loudest, but who carries the greatest responsibility,” he added. – July 23, 2026
