Cabinet reshuffle on cards after Tg Piai defeat, says Dr Mahathir

Chan Kok Leong Chan Kok Leong Updated 4 years ago · Published on 20 Nov 2019 7:09PM · 12 Comments

Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad says he will evaluate ministerial performance before deciding on a reshuffle. – The Malaysian Insight by Najjua Zulkefli, November 20, 2019.

PRIME Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad will consider reshuffling the cabinet following Pakatan Harapan’s defeat in the Tanjung Piai by-election.

“I, as the prime minister, have to be responsible for a cabinet reshuffle. I have heard their views and will consider demands for a cabinet reshuffle.

“It won’t happen today or tomorrow but after we have studied and observed the achievements of the existing ministers.

“We will only discuss the need for a reshuffle after that,” Dr Mahathir told reporters after chairing the Bersatu supreme council meeting in Petaling Jaya today.

On Saturday, PH lost the Tanjung Piai by-election to Barisan Nasional by an unexpected 15,000-vote margin.

The results have since been cast as a rejection of PH’s 18 months in federal power and prompted calls for Dr Mahathir to resign.

Bersatu leaders at the supreme council meeting were shocked by the magnitude of PH’s defeat in Tg Piai, Dr Mahathir said today.

“We knew it was hard to win and that we could even lose, but certainly not to that extent,” said the 94-year-old leader, who is also PH chairman.

The party has discussed reasons for the defeat and agreed that among them was that Bersatu, as a new party, was still not well organised enough.

Party leaders also agreed that other issues, like the high cost of living, the economy and the Putrajaya’s inability to “dish out aid like the previous government”, were also factors, he added.

“However, in the end, there is the need to have a cabinet reshuffle,” said Dr Mahathir.

He said it would not be easy because he had to consider the views of Bersatu’s allies in PH: PKR, DAP, Amanah and PH-friendly Parti Warisan Sabah.

“I cannot just drop or change people. This will take time.”

He said, although the PH government had begun many programmes, it will take time before they can yield results.

One of the biggest changes, said Dr Mahathir, was the battle against corruption.

“It used to be in the billions and there may still be some at the lower levels, but it is less.” – November 20, 2019.

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Comments

  • Please just go.

    Posted 4 years ago by Yoon Kok · Reply

  • This is like the BN days where UMNO have their internal meetings followed by press conference on behalf of the government, as though UMNO is the government.

    Posted 4 years ago by A Subscriber · Reply

    • Exactly. Why wasn't there a PH meeting on this? Why is the focus on Bersatu?

      Posted 4 years ago by Anak Kampung · Reply

  • All from BERSATU must go ...sorry

    Posted 4 years ago by Maniraju Maruthai · Reply

  • Let's guess which party will benefit most from this reshuffle...

    Posted 4 years ago by Anak Kampung · Reply

  • Sigh... you never prepared for this, were you? The utter rejection of what you stood for and your leadership. If you cannot get this loud n clear, then I dont know what would move you.

    Posted 4 years ago by Rock Hensem · Reply

  • For the sake of the country, pass the PMship to Anwar, if he can't perform, we will also boot him. No reforms are seen as really serious by the public. Disappointed and helpless, that's the voice of the by election voters. Govt tolerated race and religious games to play off and aggravate the divisive force to split the unity of the country. I four letters u bugger politicians for been so selfish and cruel. Malaysia is a beloved and gifted country with livelihood and caring citizens. But completely damaged by the handful of greedy, selfish and non-patriotic actor politicians who are parking all their wealth overseas. To hell u buggers go.

    Posted 4 years ago by James Wong · Reply

  • cabinet reshuffle will happen once the 22 BN MPs cross over to BERSATU...

    Posted 4 years ago by Maniraju Maruthai · Reply

  • cabinet reshuffle will happen once the 22 BN MPs cross over to BERSATU...

    Posted 4 years ago by Maniraju Maruthai · Reply

  • There are a couple of observations:-
    (a) The THRASHING that was handed out by BN was to BERSATU. Is that why the PM is not sitting with PH , but with his son ( the hopeful PM in the future?). When we look at this picture we see another KKK meeting. Only Malays, and yet PH is supposed to represent the whole nations-Others, Malays, Chinese and Indians. This is shameful. It is clear that all decisions made are without consensus. I see the dictatorial policy in the 1980s, 1990s and 2000 rearing its ugly head.

    (b) the loss can only be attributed to no one else than MAHATHIR MOHAMED. He is not suited for the new Malaysia which is a multiracial in character. Mahathir has to go!!!!!!!! If that is not possible, PH can be assured that Malaysians will not vote PH. Mahathir since day 1, is segregating Malaysians- what a horrible thing to do after all that fight to remove UMNO by BERSIH and so many other groups.

    My advise to Malaysians -to keep writing, peacefully protest and insist that democracy must prevail. We want a democratic Malaysia, not another 6 decades of totalitarianism !

    Posted 4 years ago by Tajuddin Ahmad · Reply

  • I like the English football League approach 'When the team does badly, change the manager and buy new players'..

    Posted 4 years ago by Citizen Pencen · Reply

  • Please be sincere to the rakyat voted for PH. We expect some changes. Don't deceive us.

    Posted 4 years ago by Sathiya nandhan · Reply