All ministers were present so we took a photo - PM on reshuffle rumours

Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad today downplayed rumours that a photograph taken yesterday of him and all his ministers was a sign of an imminent cabinet reshuffle

Instead, he said the photo was taken before their weekly meeting at the Prime Minister’s Office yesterday to mark the rare occasion when every single minister was present without exception.

"Yesterday was one of the few times all members of the cabinet were present.

"So we wanted to take a picture of all the members," Mahathir told reporters during a press conference after chairing a Bersatu extraordinary general meeting in Serdang today.

"What do you suggest? I listen to people you know," he quipped when directly asked whether a cabinet reshuffle was on the cards.

Meanwhile, Mahathir also took a shot at Umno veteran Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah who on Thursday said the ongoing tiff between PKR president Anwar Ibrahim and deputy president Azmin Ali could cause Pakatan Harapan to implode.

"He has a lot of experience with Semangat 46. So he knows all about it.

"He imploded," scathed the Harapan chairperson.

Tengku Razaleigh had formed Semangat 46 in 1989 after failing in his bid to challenge Mahathir for the Umno president's post.

The splinter party, however, eventually disbanded with many of its leaders including the Gua Musang MP rejoining Umno.  - Mkini