Cabinet vacancy to be filled only when there's a suitable candidate, says Anwar

PUTRAJAYA: A decision to fill the vacancy in the Cabinet can only be made when there is a suitable candidate, says Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

The Prime Minister threw back the question to the media on why should there be a need to have a Cabinet reshuffle.

"Cabinet reshuffle?" he asked.

"But on the replacement for the vacancy in Cabinet... only when there is a candidate," he said briefly when asked by reporters after attending a programme at the Putrajaya International Convention Centre (PICC) on Wednesday (Oct 18).

Anwar had previously said that there was no urgency to have a Cabinet reshuffle.

Speculation of a Cabinet reshuffle gained traction after the civil service heads of five ministries were moved to new positions recently.

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.

The duties of the domestic trade and cost of living minister are currently assumed by the Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Sabah, Sarawak Affairs and Special Functions) Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali.