BENTONG – Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has to be given space to make any decision to reshuffle the cabinet, said Titiwangsa MP Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani.
Johari, who is also Umno vice-president, said reshuffling the cabinet is the sole prerogative of the prime minister.
“The prime minister will arrange his own team, like playing football. He can’t play alone. He has a team and each has their own expertise who needs time to adapt.
“No one can put pressure on the matter because we have to take into account that the unity government is only 10 months old,” he was quoted as saying by Bernama after an event here with the Sg Gapoi’s Orang Asli today.
Last month, former finance minister Johari declared his aspiration to make a comeback to head the Finance Ministry.
He made the proclamation in the Dewan Rakyat during opposition leader and Larut MP Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin’s debate on the 12th Malaysia Plan mid-term review.
The Finance Ministry is currently helmed by Anwar.
A few days ago, Anwar said there was no urgent need for the unity government to initiate a cabinet reshuffle in the near future.
Despite the current vacancy involving the Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry, he said the management of the ministry had been handled well by acting minister Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali.
The latest comments from the prime minister follows reports that he was preparing to reshuffle the cabinet soon, along with the chief secretary of the government, bureaucrats, civil servants and members within his own office.
Rumours of a cabinet reshuffle emerged after the vacancy at the Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry, after the passing of its then-minister Datuk Seri Salahuddin Ayub on July 23. – October 1, 2023