PM’s move to drop Muhyiddin ‘drastic but bold’, say analysts
Analysts believe Najib had to resort to a Cabinet reshuffle as he needed its full support to proceed with the implementation of various policies and to restore the people’s faith in Barisan Nasional.
Bernama
Political analysts have described Prime Minister Najib Razak’s decision to drop his deputy Muhyiddin Yassin from the new Cabinet line-up as a “drastic but bold” move.
They believe that Prime Minister Najib had to resort to a Cabinet reshuffle as he needed its full support to proceed with the implementation of various policies and to restore the people’s faith in Barisan Nasional (BN).
Senior political science lecturer at Universiti Teknologi Mara’s Dungun campus in Terengganu, Che Hamdan Che Mohd Razali, said: “I think, on the whole, what Najib is looking for are Cabinet members who are loyal and are able to work him in all kinds of situations, whether good or bad.
“He had to take a relook at the Cabinet to ensure that he received the full support of all its members, especially in facing the various issues that have cropped up.”
Najib announced the new Cabinet line-up at a press conference on Tuesday (Jul 28). Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has replaced Muhyiddin as Deputy Prime Minister. Ahmad Zahid also retains his Home Ministry portfolio.
The Cabinet reshuffle, which was telecast live over television, also saw four other ministers being dropped and seven new ministerial appointments.
Besides Muhyiddin, the others who have been axed were Mohd Shafie Apdal (Rural and Regional Development Minister), Hasan Malek (Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Minister), Datuk Seri G. Palanivel (Natural Resources and Environment Minister) and Dr Ewon Ebin (Science, Technology and Innovation Minister).
Economist Prof Dr Amir Hussin Baharuddin, who is attached to Universiti Utara Malaysia’s School of Economics, Finance and Banking Studies, said the Cabinet reshuffle was essential as the ruling government has to make sure that the nation remained steady to face the next general election.
“No one should feel dispirited. We’ve to accept it with a positive frame of mind… nobody is bad and nobody is good,” he told Bernama.
The Cabinet reshuffle, he said, was carried out in the interest of all concerned and was essential in the face of all the issues rocking the nation.
A lecturer at Universiti Putra Malaysia’s Department of Nationhood and Civilisation Studies, Asso Prof Mohd Izani Mohd Zain, said the prime minister had a good reason for reshuffling the Cabinet and reappointing two former ministers to the Cabinet.
“The new line-up also includes new faces from among the younger generation, which is good (for the BN) when facing the next general election.
“The former ministers who have been reappointed can use their experience to strengthen the Cabinet and the government,” he added.
The two who have been reappointed as ministers are Azalina Othman Said (Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department) and Ong Ka Chuan (International Trade and Industry Minister).
