MINISTER TO RESIGN FROM M`SIAN CABINET ON WEDNESDAY

KUALA LUMPUR, March 27 (Bernama) -- Shahrir Samad, who lost in the
contest for the United Malays National Organization (Umno) Supreme Council seat
in party elections Thursday, said he will tender his resignation as the Domestic
Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister on Wednesay.

Shahrir said Friday 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 Abdullah Ahmad
Badawi and 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 n Shahrir, 60, said the decision to resign following his defeat in party
elections was not something new.

In the 2004 party elections, three cabinet ministers who failed to get
elected as Supreme Council members had also resigned from their respective
posts.

He said that such principles should be defended and kept alive to show that
Umno leaders were not only after party posts.

Shahrir said he could have chosen not to contest as his appointment as
cabinet minister was the prerogative of the prime minister but decided to
contest nevertheless to get the endorsement from party members to sit in the
party's highest decision making body.

The ministerial post, he said, belonged to the people and if there were
others who can serve the people through the post, then it should be given to
them.

Shahrir said that when he was appointed to the post, the problem of
inflation had just started.

"I've done my best. My time as a cabinet minister is up. To me, others
should be given the opportunity. If I don't quit, I will deprive others of the
opportunity to serve," said Shahrir.

He would remain as the Johor Baharu MP.

-- BERNAMA