PM Anwar keeps everyone guessing on Cabinet reshuffle

THE Prime Minister is certainly keeping everyone, including his Cabinet members, guessing when he will announce his new line-up. On the surface, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim may not be in a hurry to unveil the list, but the tight window period means news is imminent.

The next few days will be crucial as speculation on the changes will shift into higher gear. On Sunday, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Zahid Ahmad Hamidi, lent weight to the issue at hand by saying the Cabinet may undergo a reshuffle, which “will be soon.”

He said one of the reasons for the reshuffle was to fill the ministerial post for Domestic, Trade and Cost of Living, following the death of Datuk Salahuddin Ayub in July.

Prior to this, Anwar had said he would “think about” a reshuffle, when pressed by reporters if such a plan was in the pipeline. His delay in making the announcement has prompted analysts, the media and even some senior Parti Keadilan Nasional leaders to examine his schedule for the next few days for possible clues.

He leaves for the United Arab Emirates’ capital Abu Dhabi for a two-day trip on Wednesday and will be back in Kuala Lumpur on Friday. It’s unclear if he would unveil the new Cabinet list just a day before the Pelangai by-election in Pahang, which is the next day, Oct 7.

It’s well within his rights to do this because a by-election has no bearing on a Cabinet reshuffle. But like all changes, not everyone will be pleased, and it could, in fact, be turned into a point of contention by the Opposition, should there be reason.

The first of the coming Dewan Rakyat sittings will be on Oct 9, with the Budget to be presented on Oct 13. It will be more difficult to make any changes once Parliament is in session because ministers would have to field questions from Members of Parliament.

While staff from the respective ministries would be the ones entrusted to prepare replies to the questions from MPs, it would certainly be better if ministers themselves face the MPs.

It would be unfair to newly appointed ministers to handle such a task as the person could also be getting supplementary questions, which may not have written replies on hand. The last thing the Prime Minister needs is fumbling ministers who can’t provide comprehensive answers to questions from the Opposition.

The Dewan Rakyat meeting will drag on until Nov 30, which is the longest meeting for the year. With Anwar keeping his cards close to his chest, the dates ahead, which involve the Dewan Rakyat, provide an idea of how little room he has to manoeuvre.

If it’s merely to fill up a single post, then it could hardly qualify to be labelled a reshuffle. As Anwar enters his first year as PM, it makes sense for him to make meaningful alterations to the Cabinet. If it’s merely a rotation of ministers, then there won’t be any added value.

Malaysians expect him to name new entrants and drop a few non-performers to make the reorganisation impactful. But as the guessing game continues, all kinds of speculations have surfaced, including one involving Selangor Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari, who is also Gombak MP, being made a Cabinet minister.

This is unlikely since the 10-member Selangor executive council has seven new faces. It will make more strategic sense for Amirudin, an experienced leader, to take on the 22-member state opposition led by Datuk Seri Azmin Ali, who is a former MB.

News portals have realised that gossip on Cabinet changes garners high views, even if there’s little truth to it. But they do make a good read.

So, as Zahid has said, the reshuffle will be very soon, and it can’t be done when Parliament is in session or at the end of the year.