Up to PM if he wants to reshuffle Cabinet, says Zahid

PUTRAJAYA: It is the Prime Minister's absolute prerogative to reshuffle Cabinet, says Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi (pic).

The Deputy Prime Minister was responding to a report by a portal saying that Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim was expected to reshuffle Cabinet after the upcoming six state elections.

"It's fully up to the Prime Minister to reshuffle the Cabinet if he wants to. We shall wait and see if it really happens," he told the press after officiating the closing ceremony of the National Training Week programme here Saturday (May 27).

The portal reported that a "clean-up" of senior civil servants was expected to be done first, quoting a well-placed PKR source.

The source revealed that Anwar intended to remove some deadwood from his Cabinet, but it was more likely that secretaries-general and directors-general from a number of unspecified ministries would be axed in a "house clean-up".

When asked, Ahmad Zahid said all ministers were performing as far as he could see.

He also said that it was not usually a norm for the Prime Minister to discuss Cabinet reshuffles with the Cabinet.

In another development, Ahmad Zahid said he would leave it to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) to investigate the graft allegations against Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.

The Perikatan Nasional chairman was mulling legal action against anyone, including the Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister who alleged that Perikatan had received funds from gaming companies to cover campaigning costs during the 15th General Election (GE15).

When asked about Muhyiddin's intention to sue, Ahmad Zahid said, "Me? Why me?"

He added that since Law and Institutional Reform Minister Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said has issued a statement on the matter, he would leave it to the MACC to conduct a thorough investigation.

On Friday (May 25), Azalina said in Parliament that the MACC cannot confirm claims that Perikatan had used gambling proceeds in the last general election following a detailed probe into the matter.

She said the MACC found that the information was too general and no parties were able to confirm the issue.

"So, no investigation papers were open," she said.

Earlier, PAS had demanded Anwar to provide evidence after implying funds from gaming companies were used to partially fund Perikatan's GE15 campaign.

On Dec 5 last year, PAS secretary-general Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan said Perikatan would consider taking legal action against Anwar if no proof was furnished.

Anwar had hit out at Perikatan for allowing 22 special draws for 4D numbers under its administration.