Malaysian cabinet to be reshuffled: Sources

KUALA LUMPUR — A Malaysian cabinet reshuffle is in the works and could be announced as soon as next week, according to sources.

However, the changes won’t involve axing or adding cabinet members but portfolios will be swapped instead, two sources told The Malaysian Insight.

“The reshuffle won’t axe any minister, it will be merely to change their portfolios.

“In other words, PKR president Anwar Ibrahim won’t enter the cabinet,” said a source.

According to the sources, Malaysian Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad briefed the cabinet at its weekly meeting yesterday and told them that it would take at least a year or two for a new person to adjust to a ministerial post.

This being the case, the reshuffle will only involve changing portfolios.

“If it is not done by next week, the prime minister will definitely announce it by September 15 at the latest,” said a source.

The sources could not say which ministers would be involved in the swapping of portfolios but predicted that party leaders, as well as Sabah ministers, won’t be touched.

Rumours of a cabinet reshuffle have been swirling since early this year.

Some reports earlier speculated the reshuffle will see several senior politicians being drafted to strengthen the cabinet.

Veteran politician Mustapa Mohamed, the Jeli MP from Kelantan, is among those whose names had been bandied about to join the cabinet.

Popularly known as Tok Pa in his home state, Mr Mustapa quit Umno on September 18 last year and joined Bersatu on October 26. THE MALAYSIAN INSIGHT