KUALA LUMPUR: Amid growing speculation over an impending Cabinet reshuffle, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has clarified that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has yet to request any names to fill vacant ministerial positions.
Ahmad Zahid said no formal communication had been made by the prime minister regarding proposed candidates, stressing that Umno and Barisan Nasional (BN) would only act once an official request was received.
“The prime minister has not asked yet. When the time comes, I will inform the media,” Zahid said briefly when approached by reporters after officiating the 33rd All Malaysian Indian Progressive Front (IPF Malaysia) general assembly in Hulu Langat on Sunday.
Zahid, who is also Umno president and BN chairman, emphasised that Cabinet appointments remain the prerogative of the prime minister and should not be driven by speculation or political pressure.
Also present at the event were BN secretary-general Datuk Seri Zambry Abdul Kadir and IPF Malaysia president Datuk T. Loganathan, reflecting continued cooperation among BN component parties within the unity government framework.
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim had previously indicated that a Cabinet reshuffle would take place in the near future, although he has yet to announce a specific date. He also signalled that the exercise would not involve a major overhaul, but rather focus on filling existing vacancies.
Reports suggest that the reshuffle may affect several ministries, including the Ministry of Economy, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability, the Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry, and the Ministry of Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives.
Political observers note that the government’s cautious approach reflects a desire to maintain administrative stability while ensuring that key portfolios are adequately staffed to implement policy priorities.
Zahid’s remarks are widely seen as an attempt to temper public speculation and reaffirm that any Cabinet changes will be carried out in an orderly and consultative manner.