Mohamad Hasan is ready to resign if Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim asks

(Seremban, July 19) Mohamad Hasan is ready to resign if Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim asks him to — those were the words of BN's deputy president and Malaysia's Foreign Minister on Thursday, responding to the PM's pointed warning that any minister using their post to attack coalition partners during the state election campaign must be prepared to give up their position.

Anwar had made the warning earlier in the day at a press conference in Ipoh, following the Madani Kita community programme there. He was explicit: ministers, deputy ministers and senior government officials who exploit their federal government positions to go after cabinet allies during the campaign are crossing a line, and they will be required to resign if they do so. Anwar noted he had spoken with both deputy prime ministers before issuing the reminder, and he used a memorable formulation to summarise his view — that state-level competition should stay at the state level, without destabilising the working relationships within the federal government.

Mohamad Hasan, who is running in the Ayer Panas constituency in the ongoing election, met reporters after a campaign appearance in Seremban and fielded questions about the PM's remarks with evident steadiness. He said BN had not been running a campaign aimed at any coalition partner — the party had simply been engaging with voters and presenting its platform. He was equally steady on the resignation question: Mohamad Hasan is ready to resign if PM Anwar says so, and he will not resist or contest that decision.

Regarding calls from PH Youth for a blanket resignation of all BN ministers, Mohamad Hasan said that is a matter for the prime minister to determine and that BN would not act independently on the issue. He also appealed to voters to think carefully and not spread rumours, drawing on the cautionary example of the 2018 general election.

On his foreign affairs portfolio, Mohamad Hasan said he would be heading to the Philippines the following day for an ASEAN ministerial gathering at which participants would discuss the South China Sea, the Gaza situation and regional food security — continuing to discharge his national responsibilities in parallel with the campaign.