Najib hints of Cabinet reshuffle soon

Najib (centre) has indicated today that a Cabinet reshuffle is in the cards soon, but has also denied rumours circulating recently that Deputy Prime Mnister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin (left) is making way for Hishammuddin (right). - The Malaysian Insider pic, June 24, 2014.Datuk Seri Najib Razak today hinted that there will be a Cabinet reshuffle soon.

Towards the tail end of his speech while launching the new low-cost carrier terminal, klia2, the prime minister thanked acting Transport Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein for his hard work especially in the last few months dealing with the missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370, which vanished with 239 people on board en route to Beijing on March 8.

"This might be your last function as acting transport minister," he said.

Speculation have been rife that Najib will carry out a cabinet reshuffle to accommodate the presidents of his Barisan Nasional partners, MCA and Gerakan.

Talk has it that the new line-up could be announced between now and after Hari Raya which is expected to be on July 28.

The Malaysian Insider reported recently that four MCA and two Gerakan members of parliament will be made ministers and deputy ministers, part of a mini reshuffle with no ministers being dropped in the process.

MCA president Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai and Gerakan president Datuk Mah Siew Keong have been confirmed as ministers, and the inclusion of Mah into the Cabinet was seen as part of Najib’s promise made at the recent Teluk Intan by-election.

There are currently 32 ministers in the Cabinet.

The Transport portfolio, traditionally given to MCA, was left vacant after the 13th general election last year, after MCA had previously decided it would not accept Cabinet posts if the party performed worse than it did in GE12.

The Chinese party overturned its decision early this year.

Three more vacancies to be filled are for the posts of deputy ministers for Finance, Tourism and in the Prime Minister’s Department.

- TMI