THERE will be no cabinet reshuffle, said Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad seven months after Pakatan Harapan won Putrajaya.

“Sorry, no cabinet reshuffle. So, no chance for you,” the Bersatu chairman told a press conference after chairing a PH presidential council meeting in Petaling Jaya today.

Present were PKR president Anwar Ibrahim, PKR advisory council chairman Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, Amanah president Mohamad Sabu, DAP deputy chairman Gobind Singh Deo and other pact leaders.

Last month, Dr Mahathir told The Straits Times that he was open to a cabinet reshuffle should PKR submit nominations and he approved of the candidates, following the completion of the party’s internal polls.

“They (PKR) can submit names, they can argue their case. I have my own views also. And the principle is that, this cabinet is chaired by me as the prime minister, and I need to have people I am comfortable with,” he was quoted as saying by the Singapore daily.

“So, whether I accept nominations from them, it’s really up to me.”

Anwar, who is poised to take over as prime minister, had won the PKR presidency uncontested, but the party elections saw the camp backing him take a hit.

Rafizi Ramli, who contested the party’s deputy presidency, had said should he win, he would ensure Anwar took over from Dr Mahathir as agreed upon by PH parties prior to the 14th general election.

In October, Dr Mahathir hinted that he may be open to a cabinet reshuffle after giving newly appointed ministers scores of just between 40% and 50%.

He made the remarks during an interview on Astro Awani, where he was asked to rate his cabinet’s performance. – December 8, 2018.