PUTRAJAYA: The Cabinet will not be reshuffled after the PKR polls, but no ministers will be stopped from resigning if they wish to do so, says Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
The Prime Minister said the PKR polls is a competition between close friends and urged party members to vote for those who are capable of strengthening the party machinery.
“The issue of a Cabinet reshuffle does not arise… but, we cannot stop anyone’s ambitions.
“They think it (minister) has to be replaced, it is normal. But if you ask me, there are no plans to carry out any Cabinet reshuffle,” said Anwar after a media briefing session on the Asean summit at Seri Perdana on Wednesday (May 21).
Recently, Datuk Seri Rafizi Ramli announced his readiness to step down as Economy Minister if he fails to defend the deputy presidency in the party elections.
Asked if Rafizi insists on resigning if he loses, Anwar said he will speak with him first.
“At the Cabinet meeting just now, there wasn’t any (talk on this). Let it be first,” added Anwar.
PKR secretary-general Fuziah Salleh have said the results of the election for the central leadership are expected to be known as early as 2.30pm this Saturday (May 24).
Rafizi is set to defend his deputy president post against Nurul Izzah Anwar, who’s the Prime Minister’s daughter.
Anwar also denied that the intensifying PKR polls will give a perception to Asean delegates that Malaysia is politically unstable.
“Only if politics is stable, are we able to contest party positions. If it is unstable, a dictatorship, then there will not be contests all levels.
“So, we must look at it positively and it will not affect anything,” said Anwar.
The Asean summit will see ministerial-level meetings on Sunday (May 25) while the leaders’ summit will commence for two days beginning the following day.
