Cabinet reshuffle imminent

MCA's Liow and Gerakan's Mah are expected to get ministerial positions.

PETALING JAYA: Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak is expected to shuffle his Cabinet within the next few days with the addition of members from MCA and Gerakan, sources said.

Najib is currently on a two-day trip to Turkmenistan and is expected to make an announcement soon after his return.

It is not clear how many new ministers will be added to the current 32-member Cabinet, but observers said the presidents of the two Chinese-based parties were certain to get ministerial positions.

The transport portfolio, traditionally held by MCA, is currently vacant and the party’s president, Liow Tiong Lai, is expected to fill it.

A ministerial portfolio may be created for Gerakan chief Mah Siew Keong or someone will be dropped to accommodate him. Mah won the recent by-election in Teluk Intan. He was promised a Cabinet post in the BN campaign for the seat.

There are also vacancies for deputy ministerial posts in Finance, Tourism and the Prime Minister’s Department.

Observers are keen to see if the Cabinet will be expanded or a few ministers will lose their positions.

“This may in fact be the opportunity that Najib has been waiting for to get rid of some deadwood,” said a pundit who spoke on condition of anonymity.

“But then again, this could be Najib’s indication to Malaysians that the Chinese are shifting their support back to BN and he is thanking them. Or it could just be that he is merely filling up vacancies.”