TASEK GELUGOR – Caretaker Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob says he was joking about his ability to sack 12 Perikatan Nasional (PN) ministers who sent a letter to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong to reject the dissolution of Parliament.
He stated if he was serious, he could have sacked them from the cabinet a long time ago.
"Am I kidding or am I serious? If I was serious, they would have been sacked.
"He is still in my Cabinet, which means that I was joking," he said when met by media after attending the Keluarga Malaysia City Community Strengthening Programme at the Tasek Gelugor Commercial Centre on Wednesday.
Earlier, caretaker Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Special Functions) Datuk Dr Abd Latiff Ahmad criticised Ismail Sabri's statement that he wanted to sack the ministers in the government who did not agree with the dissolution of Parliament.
He said Ismail Sabri did not need to issue such a statement because the cabinet ministers could resign with dignity.
"The words such as 'sacking the ministers' even in a joking and cynical statement do not need to be said in a political programme.
"We know the Prime Minister has the hire and fire power however, we have our dignity, there's no need to sack us, we could just resign from our position earlier," he said.