KUALA LUMPUR: Human Resources Minister V. Sivakumar will not bow down to demands for him to resign despite calls to do so following the arrest of his senior officers over corruption allegations.
Sivakumar said he would heed the words of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, who had said there was no need for any resignation.
Asked what was his response to repeated calls for him to quit, Sivakumar told the New Straits Times: "The PM has already answered that question. Let it be. Let the PM decide on it."
On April 17, Anwar had said Sivakumar need not quit as he was still being investigated and not yet charged and that there was a difference between the two situations.
Anwar said if he, as the prime minister, was being asked to explain matters to the authorities, he could not immediately step down.
He had said that he left it to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) to probe the case related to alleged corruption to the recruitment of migrant workers.
The MACC had also summoned Sivakumar on April 16 to have his statement recorded to facilitate MACC's investigation.
On April 23, Pasir Gudang member of parliament Hassan Abdul Karim advised Sivakumar to take leave from his duties until the MACC completes its probe into the case.
Hassan, who is a member of the Special Committee on Corruption, said this would demonstrate a positive example in line with Pakatan Harapan government's agenda to eradicate corruption.