Muhyiddin had it coming, says Nazri Aziz

Tourism and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz says the Cabinet is the prerogative of the prime minister and he will naturally have to appoint people who are loyal to him and those with whom he feels comfortable. – The Malaysian Insider pic, July 28, 2015.

Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin’s sacking was not a surprise as he had clearly gone against the Cabinet decision on the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) issue, Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz said.

The Tourism and Culture minister said Muhyiddin’s cutting speech at the Cheras Umno division meeting last Sunday must have been the proverbial straw that broke the camel’s back.

“In the Cabinet, we had agreed that only Husni would talk about 1MDB until the task force investing had completed its job," he said referring to Second Finance Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Husni Hanadzlah.

"But he did not abide by the Cabinet decision and went on the attack last Sunday at the Cheras Umno meeting."

Speaking to The Malaysian Insider from Milan, Italy, Nazri said the appointment of Cabinet members was the prerogative of the prime minister and Datuk Seri Najib Razak had appointed those who are loyal to him.

“First of all, the Cabinet is the prerogative of the PM and, of course, he will have to appoint people who are loyal to him and those he is comfortable with.

“We don’t need a show of disunity in the Cabinet at this time. The prime minister did the right thing appointing Zahid as deputy prime minister," he said referring to Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

“Clearly some of the ministers dropped, especially those from Umno, have not toed the line on the 1MDB issue, or whose time was up,” he said.

Najib had also dropped Rural and Regional Development Minister Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal and Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Minister Datuk Seri Hassan Malek.

Shafie had also been critical of Najib’s handling of 1MDB and had publicly sniped at the prime minister while Hassan was widely seen as being ineffective in handling his ministry.

“Personally I felt uncomfortable when the deputy was attacking the prime minister and not showing support. It is not correct” Nazri said.

On allegations that Najib had decimated the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) and weakened investigation into 1MDB by promoting four of its members  – Datuk Nur Jazlan Mohamed, Datuk Seri Reezal Merican Naina Merican, Datuk Mas Ermieyati Samsudin and Datuk Wilfred Madius Tangau – into the Cabinet, Nazri said the people should not read much into that.

“I don’t think we should read anything more into that. These people were all due for promotions. Nur Jazlan long overdue. He is put in the Home Ministry which is a powerful and important  ministry. Reezal is well versed in international affairs ,” he said.

Last Sunday, at an Umno Cheras meeting, Muhyiddin had questioned the scandal surrounding 1MDB's RM42 billion debt, and The Wall Street Journal expose of money from the state investment fund allegedly being channeled into the prime minister's accounts.

The Prime Minister's Office yesterday responded, asking everyone to be patient and to wait for the final result of the investigations.

- TMI