Zahid new deputy PM, Muhyiddin out in Najib Cabinet reshuffle

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak announces the new line-up of Cabinet ministers. – The Malaysian Insider pic by Kamal Ariffin, July 28, 2015.

Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi is the new deputy prime minister and will also retain his current portfolio as home minister.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak announced this today in a live telecast, confirming The Malaysian Insider's report this morning of a Cabinet reshuffle.

Najib also announced the removal of Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin as his deputy, calling it a "difficult decision" but one he had to make to ensure that the Cabinet operated as a collective unit.

"I can accept differences of opinion and criticism as part of decision-making. But as Cabinet members, these differences should not be aired in an open forum that can affect public perception of the government and the country.

"It is also against the concept of collective responsibility," Najib said in his announcement broadcast on TV1.

Najib added that the Cabinet reshuffle was done after taking into account political considerations and the needs of his administration to ensure that it remained focused on implementing Malaysia's development.

"My decision to replace Muhyiddin with Zahid… was made in view of political considerations and the interests of the administration so that my administration will always be committed and focused to the country's development and to fulfilling the promises made by Barisan Nasional the people in the 13th general elections," Najib added.

Zahid meanwhile said his appointment as deputy prime minister was a responsibility towards the various races in Malaysia.

Also a casualty in today’s reshuffle was Umno vice-president Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal who was dropped  as rural and regional development minister.

He had been vocal in his criticism of Putrajaya’s handling of the 1MDB crisis.

- TMI