Impossible to please everyone, says Zahid on new Cabinet line-up

Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi speaks to reporters during a press conference at the police headquarters in Bukit Aman today. – The Malaysian Insider pic by Nazir Sufari, July 31, 2015.

The reshuffling of the Cabinet is the prerogative of the prime minister and his decision should respected by all, newly appointed Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said today.

He said it was hard to please everyone on this matter, adding that Datuk Seri Najib Razak would have considered not only the individuals but also the needs of the component parties in Barisan Nasional.

Zahid's statement was in apparent reference to Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad's remarks earlier today that the public did not seem to be confident of the new cabinet following Tuesday's reshuffle.

The retired statesman said Najib might think he now had a good cabinet, but such sentiments did not seem to be shared by people.

The former prime minister said the survey he made on social media showed that the public did not share the same sentiment as Najib.

I think the prime minister thinks it's a better cabinet. 

"I read blogs, Facebook… I don't see any change. On the blogs, you don't see (the sentiment). People are expressing their opinions on the Internet," said Dr Mahathir.

Zahid said the cabinet was reshuffled many times during Dr Mahathir's 22-year tenure as prime minister.

"He was prime minister for 22 years. During that time, the cabinet were formed and reshuffled many times. We have to respect the prime minister’s decision," said Zahid.

He also said the composition of the cabinet not only reflects the components of Barisan but was also a mix of old and new faces.

"It's just impossible to please everyone," he added.

Najib on Tuesday dropped Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yasin as deputy prime minister and replaced him with Zahid who also holds the Home affairs portfolio.

Najib also appointed seven new ministers and nine new deputy ministers. This is the second reshuffle he has done since the 13th general election in May 2013, and comes at a time when he is facing allegations that state funds were deposited into his personal accounts.

His brainchild, state investment firm 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB), is also being investigated for alleged financial improprieties.

- TMI