Hamzah: PM must consult Cabinet first

KOTA KINABALU: The Cabinet must be consulted before the Prime Minister meets the King to seek a dissolution of Parliament, says Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainuddin.

The Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia secretary-general said the Constitution was clear the Cabinet had to be consulted.

Hamzah, who is also Home Minister, said Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob’s majority was due to support from various parties and the views of their representatives in the Cabinet should be sought.

“He (Prime Minister) has to take the opinion of his Cabinet before making a decision (on dissolution) because it is in the Constitution.

“Some people say it’s okay because the PM is in power, he can fire all of these people (against dissolution) for him to make a decision.

“If he fires the other ministers (not from Umno), it means that he has lost his majority in Parliament. He can’t advise the King but he can only request for dissolution and it is up to the King to decide,” he said at the launch of the Home Ministry’s Kita Demi Rakyat programme at the Likas Sports Complex.

Yesterday’s programme was launched by Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor.

Meanwhile, Hamzah said he was puzzled by Umno’s call for a general election this year and its claim that the government was not good and needed a fresh mandate.

He said the current government was focused on improving the people’s livelihood.