KUALA LUMPUR, March 27 (Bernama) -- Datuk Shahrir Samad, who lost in the contest for the Umno Supreme Council seat in party elections yesterday, said he will tender his resignation as the Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister on Wednesay.
Shahrir said today that his decision was final.
"It's a matter of principle. If someone who is holding a ministerial post is not supported by party delegates to become a Supreme Council member, the person should resign from the post," said Shahrir, who is the Johor Baharu Umno division chief.
Shahrir said he would step down from the post at the weekly cabinet meeting on Wednesday, the day the power transition between Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak would take place.
It would be difficult for him to discharge his ministerial duties without party support, he added.
"We should hold on to our principle. Especially in politics, our job will become easier if we have the moral high ground.
"If we are not strong and is not supported by the party, we won't be able to face the administrative machinery, the people and the opposition when discharging our duties.
"For instance, as a member of Parliament, we need to attend parliament session.
"How are we going to answer questions confidently if we are not supported by our own party?" he told reporters on the sidelines of the Umno General Assembly at Putra World Trade Centre here.
Shahrir said: "People will then say that this YB (people's representative) is not supported by his own party, so how could we become a minister?"
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