Puad downplayed the announcement that the youth wings of DAP and PAS would be taking part in a Dataran Merdeka rally against Azam tomorrow, describing it as mere political theatre.

“DAP doesn’t need to wait until (its national congress in) July to decide for its leaders to resign from the Cabinet. Don’t be too selective in looking for reasons to resign.

“Resign now if you’re gentlemen,” the Rengit assemblyman said in a Facebook post.

DAP will hold its national congress on July 12 at which delegates will decide whether party leaders should resign from their government positions. The party will continue backing Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s administration in Parliament regardless.

DAP secretary-general Loke Siew Fook said the congress would also consider the pace of reforms implemented by the government.

Shortly after its wipeout in the Sabah polls, the Pakatan Harapan component had said it would work with Anwar to accelerate reforms over six months.

Puad questioned if DAP would only quit the Cabinet if former prime minister Najib Razak was allowed to serve his remaining jail sentence from home, claiming this would be hypocritical.

He pointed out that DAP had not voiced any objection when Azam’s contract as MACC chief was extended thrice in 2023, 2024 and 2025.

“What reforms did DAP push for in that period since it was in government?”

Puad added that both PAS and DAP would have organised rallies of their own if they were genuinely concerned over the allegations levelled against Azam and MACC.

“They’re both just trying to keep their images from being tarnished further,” he added.

Protesters will start gathering at the Sogo shopping mall in downtown Kuala Lumpur at 3pm before marching to Dataran Merdeka.

The rally is organised by NGOs but will be joined by PKR’s Rafizi Ramli and the youth wings of DAP, PAS and MCA, among others.