It is the PM’s right to reshuffle Cabinet, says Hishammuddin

Defence minister says that the people must abide by Najib Razak’s final decision.

KUALA LUMPUR: Defence Minister Hishammuddin Hussein said that it was Najib Razak’s right to call for a cabinet reshuffle and that the people must be rational and abide by their prime minister’s decision.

“It is the Prime Minister’s right and we must obey the final decision and be rational about it,” he said.

Speaking at the Defence Services Asia (DSA) 2016 launch, Hishammuddin added that the people should not get too anxious over this morning’s latest developments as it was not the first time that a Cabinet reshuffle has happened.

“At the end of the day, you have to face reality,” he said. “This is not something new and it has been done before by former Prime Ministers,” he explained.

Putting speculations to rest, Najib announced earlier today that he had dropped Muhydiddin Yassin as his deputy and replaced him with Home Minister Zahid Hamidi.

Hishamuddin also refuted wild rumours regarding the reason behind this move, stating, “As I have mentioned, the decision made by the PM is not based on an individual.

“When the decision is made, we must ensure that our country and political landscape is safe,” he said. “Therefore we must strengthen our alliance and follow what has been decided, this is reality.”

The Defence Minister also extended his best wishes to Najib, stating “I hope he will carry out his duties responsibly, and always ensure that the interests of the party and the nation will always be prioritised.”