Majority of Bersatu leaders want cabinet reshuffle

Chan Kok Leong Chan Kok Leong Updated 6 years ago · Published on 21 Nov 2019 7:00AM · 11 Comments

Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad faces some hard choices with increasing calls – even from within his own party – for a cabinet reshuffle, despite his misgivings. – The Malaysian Insight file pic, November 21, 2019.

MOST Bersatu supreme council members are in favour of a cabinet reshuffle, following Pakatan Harapan’s defeat in the Tg Piai by-election, according to a party source.

They see a reshuffle as one way to help the coalition regain the public’s confidence after its crushing loss to Barisan Nasional and amid heavy criticism over its performance in the past 18 months as the federal government.

“It was a majority view,” said the source, who was privy to the meeting in Petaling Jaya yesterday.

Dr Mahathir announced the possibility of a cabinet reshuffle yesterday after the meeting.

Bersatu candidate Karmaine Sardini lost to BN’s Wee Jeck Seng in the by-election last Saturday by 15,086 votes.

The size of the win was made more remarkable as Wee lost to Bersatu’s Dr Md Farid Md Rafik by 524 votes just 18 months earlier, in the 14th general election.

PH’s defeat is now being cast a rejection of its policies and prompted calls for Dr Mahathir’s resignation.

However, according to the party source, Dr Mahathir is not convinced that a cabinet reshuffle is the solution to PH’s problems.

The prime minister hinted at his reluctance during the press conference yesterday: “Reshuffle is not the way to restore the government’s position.

“Even if we did a reshuffle now, it will take time for the new person to get used to the job and it will take time to evaluate the person’s performance.

“Maybe, the new person won’t perform as well and there will be more requests for another reshuffle.

“It is as if a reshuffle is the answer to all our problems. It’s not so simple,” the PH chairman said.

One reason Dr Mahathir is not keen on a reshuffle is because Malaysia is due to host the Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation (Apec) 2020 meeting.

“There’s a lot of work to be done. Our big problem next year is we will host the Apec meeting and we cannot treat it lightly.

“It is one of the biggest international conferences,” he told reporters yesterday when asked when a cabinet reshuffle would take place.

Bersatu leaders at their meeting yesterday did not state any deadline for a cabinet reshuffle.

Publicly, Dr Mahathir said he would have to discuss the matter with other PH parties, as well as PH-friendly Parti Warisan Sabah.

Talk of a cabinet reshuffle has emerged now and then since PH formed the federal government last year, but Dr Mahathir had always denied it.

With the exception of Dr Mahathir and Home Minister Muhyiddin Yassin, the other 26 members of the cabinet are all first timers.

In the past 18 months, PH has taken hits from the public over several policy issues involving the cost of living, education, toll highways, aid for farmers and fishermen, delays in the fuel subsidy mechanism and its slow pace of reforms to laws and institutions.

In terms of parties, PKR has the most ministers at seven; Bersatu and DAP (6 each), Amanah (5), Warisan (3), and Hindraf (1). – November 21, 2019.

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Comments

  • Just reshuffle your Bersatu Ministers.

    Posted 6 years ago by Penganalisa L · Reply

  • Bersatu minsters are holding the keys to the realization of some of the manifestos. They are not willing to use the keys to turn them on. This is the main reason for the loss of Tg Piai.

    Posted 6 years ago by Tanahair Ku · Reply

  • No, the magic wand is getting rid of you.

    Posted 6 years ago by Yoon Kok · Reply

  • If they are talking about Bersatu's ministers, please go ahead & reshuffle, otherwise, you have no business talking about cabinet reshuffle in a Bersatu press conference, disrespect to other component parties like umno in BN days.

    Posted 6 years ago by A Subscriber · Reply

    • Bluntly to say , the Education Minister is the one cause of defeat in Johor PRK.

      Posted 6 years ago by MA63 SSS · Reply

  • The under performers are your Bersatu Ministers, just kick them out!

    Posted 6 years ago by Elyse Gim · Reply

  • Post mortem the loss of the by election first and identify why PH lost so terribly. Then u address the problem specifically. For example , if Lynas continuing contract is a key dissatisfaction among Voters, then Dr M resign himself, u overule everybody and wanted Lynas licence to be renewed. U go against the will of majority Malaysians, u betrayed the rakyat using your given power as a PM.

    Posted 6 years ago by James Wong · Reply

  • If dissatisfaction is withdrawal of Tar U funding, then ask LGE to resign bcos he goes against the will of most Chinese voters who believe that education should not be politicised.

    Posted 6 years ago by James Wong · Reply

  • If dissatisfaction is no reforms in education ministry, ask Mazlee to resign bcos he is so useless for only know how to change the color of school shoes. Many will agree he is one if the most useless minister. In fact without him the education Ministry will likely be more effective. Negative contribution.

    Posted 6 years ago by James Wong · Reply

  • If public is not happy with minister who initiated flying car, just ask Mohd Redzuan to go and fly kite.

    Posted 6 years ago by James Wong · Reply

  • If Malays are not happy with the rural development minister who just wanted to create 20 millionaires entrepreneurs in 2 years, ask Rina to resign immediately. U put an asshole to be the minister also can create 20 millionaires entrepreneurs. Just provide one million grant to 20 Malay entrepreneurs vwuth a stroke of her hand. If u say create 1000 Malay media runcit that become S of sustainable after 3 yrs, then it's a great achievement.

    Posted 6 years ago by James Wong · Reply