PM denies talks of a cabinet reshuffle

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has denied a speculated rumour about a cabinet reshuffle.

(NST) – He said he was unaware of the development as he was only informed about the rumour earlier today.

“Who wants to help with the reshuffle, I didn’t hear it, seriously, I’ve not heard (about the cabinet reshuffle),

“It could happen after the election (Nenggiri by-election), God willing,” Anwar told reporters in jest after launching the Malaysian Commercialisation Year Summit 2024 at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre today.

Earlier today, an online news portal quoted multiple sources in a story about the possibility of another cabinet reshuffle just under a year after the last.

According to a PKR insider quoted in the story, a minister from the party will either be reassigned to a different ministry or axed from the Cabinet entirely due to performance issues.

The source also told the portal that a menteri besar may be appointed to a ministerial position in the federal government, a move that was previously considered during the last cabinet reshuffle in December.

This possibility seems more likely now, with some state assemblymen already aware of the potential change.

Another source from DAP mentioned that the reshuffle could take place by the end of this month, with a few deputy ministers possibly being promoted.

The Cabinet was last reshuffled in December last year and expanded from 29 ministers to 31.

At that time DAP’s V. Sivakumar was axed as the human resources minister, while two men returned as ministers – Amanah’s Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad as Health Minister; and Umno’s Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani as Plantation and Commodities Minister. Several ministers swapped portfolios.