TTF: Yesterday, Mahathir made it clear that he was open to a cabinet reshuffle after PKR concluded its party elections.
Today, he tells us that he has no intention to reshuffle the cabinet as the cabinet is only six-months old.
However, this is not yet another one of the Prime Minister’s flip-flops.
On the contrary, it has to do with Education Minister Dr Maszlee Malik’s agreement to step down as International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM) president as soon as possible.
On Monday, the 12th of November 2018, Maszlee told reporters that he respected the cabinet’s and Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin’s statement regarding the need for him to vacate his post as IIUM president.
Speculation was rife, that Mahathir was pissed at Maszlee for defying orders by taking his own sweet time to vacate the post.
A PPBM insider confirmed this.
According to him, the Prime Minister suspected that Maszlee was not effective as Minister of Education as he paid far too much attention to IIUM’s affairs to be bothered about his ministry.
TTF is told that Mahathir met Maszlee and told him to either buck up or face the sack.
SINGAPORE: Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad has ended speculation about any immediate Federal Cabinet reshuffle, making it clear he has no intention to do so.
“As far as I’m concerned, we are only a six-month old Cabinet. It’s difficult to assess the performance (of ministers) within such a short time.
“I don’t want to be changing freely because it can lead to a lack of confidence,” he told a press conference on the final day of the Asean summit here.
The prime minister however, said that while he had no intention of reshuffling the Cabinet, other Pakatan Harapan component members might want it.
He said he will have to consider their views if that happens.
Asked about the performance of some ministers who had come under criticism, Dr Mahathir said they should be given a chance.
“We will talk to them.
“I must admit that they are not familiar with being in the government. They are familiar with being in the opposition. So some of the things they do reflect their position as opposition people,” he said.
Asked how much more leeway he was going to give to the under-performing ministers, Dr Mahathir said he could not say.
Speculation about the cabinet reshuffle has swirled for weeks amid public criticism of several ministers, most of whom are in the government for the first time.
In an interview with the Straits Times on Tuesday, Dr Mahathir said he has the final say on Cabinet appointments but did not rule out making changes if PKR was to make nominations and he approved of the candidates.
Source: NST Online
