No urgency for a Cabinet reshuffle, says Anwar

KUALA LUMPUR: There is no rush for a Cabinet reshuffle, says Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim following his audience with the Yang di-Pertuan Agong yesterday morning.

Anwar, who is also the Finance Minister, said he was granted an audience with Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah for a routine post-Cabinet briefing.

He did not, however, rule out the possibility of discussing Cabinet reshuffles with the King.

“I had a weekly meeting with the King. On that matter (the Cabinet reshuffle) maybe (we discussed it).

“But it is not urgent because only one post is vacant,” he told reporters when asked about his meeting with the King after attending Lembaga Tabung Haji’s (TH) 60th Anniversary Celebration yesterday.

The post of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Minister became vacant after Datuk Seri Salahuddin Ayub passed away in July due to a brain haemorrhage.

Anwar and his entourage were seen entering the palace grounds at around 10.45am yesterday amid talks of an impending Cabinet reshuffle.

He left an hour later.

The Star previously reported that discussions regarding a Cabinet reshuffle were intensifying, as insiders strongly believed that changes to the ministerial line-up were imminent, likely occurring between late September and early October.

Meanwhile, Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives Minister Datuk Ewon Benedick believed a Cabinet “reshuffle” would take place.

“I think there is a need for a Cabinet reshuffle, but only to fill positions that are vacant. The Prime Minister has said that he was thinking about it (reshuffle).

“Maybe it will involve switching portfolios, but that is up to the PM,” he told reporters at the Upko office in Penampang, Sabah, yesterday.

The Prime Minister had on Wednesday said he was “still thinking” about a reshuffle when asked about such talk.