Are you worried about cabinet reshuffle? Guan Eng: Next question

Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng declined to entertain a question if he is concerned about his position with regard to the impending cabinet reshuffle.

Quizzed on this during a press conference in Kuala Lumpur this morning, he replied: "Can we go to next question?"

Earlier, Lim, who is also DAP secretary-general, claimed he only became aware of Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad's plan to reshuffle the cabinet after reading about it in newspapers this morning.

He said this when asked if DAP has discussed the matter.

Lim is the second Chinese Malaysian to helm the finance portfolio after the late MCA president Tan Siew Sin, who served from 1959 to 1974.

However, detractors claimed that Lim was a powerless finance minister following the creation of the Economic Affairs Ministry, spearheaded by PKR deputy president Azmin Ali.

One of his chief critics, MCA president Wee Ka Siong, had described the DAP leader as a mere bookkeeper since it was Azmin who wielded the real power.

Apart from Lim, DAP has six other cabinet ministers - Anthony Loke (transport), M Kulasegaran (human resources), Gobind Singh Deo (communication and multimedia), Teresa Kok (primary industries) and Yeo Bee Yin (energy, science, technology, environment and climate changes).

The party also has seven deputy ministers - Liew Chin Tong (defence), Ong Kian Ming (international trade and industry), Teo Nie Ching (education), Tengku Zulpuri Shah Raja Puji (water, land and natural resources), Chong Chieng Jen (domestic trade and consumer affairs), Hannah Yeoh (family and community development) and Steven Sim (youth and sports).

Yesterday, Mahathir announced that he is considering making changes to the cabinet following Harapan's devastating defeat in last Saturday's by-election. 

Without committing to any time frame, he did not discount the possibility that the reshuffle might take place before the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) summit to be hosted by Malaysia in November next year.

However, he said the government must take into consideration the constraints of making "radical changes" ahead of such an important international event.

Bersatu ministers often target of criticism

After Harapan lost the Tanjung Piai seat by a majority of more than 15,000 votes, there were calls for Mahathir himself to step down and pass the baton to his designated successor Anwar Ibrahim (below).

Quizzed on this yesterday, the 94-year-old shifted the decision on his position to Harapan leaders instead. 

"Well, it is up to the party. They (Harapan presidential council) can sack me if they want to," he added.

Last month, Mahathir dismissed a survey which found that the approval rating for the Harapan government had plummeted to 35 percent. 

Claiming there is still support for the coalition, he said: “This census by these private people, they ask a number of people and they make an assumption from that."

"I don't think this is accurate. As you know during the last election, those people who are great experts in finding out people's opinions, said we were going to lose, but we won,” he added.

Among the Harapan ministers, those from Mahathir's party Bersatu are often the subject of criticism but the premier had defended his cabinet line-up in the past.

Bersatu ministers are its president Muhyiddin Yassin, who is home minister, Syed Saddiq Abdul Rahman (youth and sports), Rina Harun (rural development minister), Mohd Redzuan Yusof (entrepreneur development) and Maszlee Malik (education).

No back door PM - Mahathir agrees with Anwar

At a press conference this morning, Mahathir said he would convey his plan to reshuffle the cabinet to Lim and Deputy Prime Minister Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail at the Harapan meeting.

“But I think they read newspapers,” he added.

To another question, Mahathir said he agreed with Anwar that those aspiring for the premier's post should follow the proper channel. 

“We agree with him. Must go through the right way,” he added.

Anwar's remarks had come in the wake of his estranged deputy Azmin holding a meeting with more than 20 Umno lawmakers at his residence in Putrajaya on Monday night.

Among those who attended was former Umno vice-president Hishammuddin Hussein, whom the Harapan secretariat accused of plotting to form a government without DAP and Amanah.

Anwar had also accused Hishammuddin of using the threat of prosecution to secure support for his plan and advised BN lawmakers not to succumb. Hishammuddin has denied the allegation.

Meanwhile, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Liew Vui Keong declined to comment much about the cabinet reshuffle mentioned by Mahathir yesterday.

"I only heard about it yesterday so I have no comment.

"It is the power of the PM to do whatever he wants," he said to reporters in parliament today. - Mkini