Opposition MP presses minister on resignation promise using poem

An opposition lawmaker in Malaysia has publicly pressed the Housing and Local Government Minister, Nga Kor Ming, to fulfill a past pledge to resign, using a traditional Malay poetic form to make his point. Awang Solahuddin Hashim, the Member of Parliament for Pendang, posed the question during a session in the Dewan Rakyat.

Hashim employed a pantun, a type of Malay poetry, to directly address Minister Nga Kor Ming. The verse alluded to a previous statement by the minister, who also serves as Deputy Chairman of the Democratic Action Party (DAP). Nga had reportedly stated he was prepared to resign if Barisan Nasional achieved a significant victory in the Johor state election or if former Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak were released from prison.

The issue gained traction during the Johor state election campaign, with some Barisan Nasional leaders urging Nga to honor his commitment following the coalition's strong performance. However, Nga later clarified his remarks, specifying that his resignation statement was contingent upon Najib Razak's release from jail, rather than the election results. Hashim argued that the matter warrants attention due to its implications for a leader's stance and accountability after making public statements.