PETALING JAYA: Zambry Abdul Kadir has denied that the Cabinet reshuffle was to strengthen the position of Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, saying the shake-up had nothing to do with the deputy prime minister.
According to Harian Metro, the Barisan Nasional secretary-general maintained that reshuffling the Cabinet was the sole prerogative of the prime minister.
“It has nothing to do (with Zahid), because we need to understand that it’s the sole authority of the prime minister to build his (Cabinet).
“I’m sure (Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim) has made the right evaluations in reshuffling (the Cabinet),” said Zambry, the former foreign minister who was given the higher education portfolio in Tuesday’s lineup change.
Bersatu’s Wan Saiful Wan Jan had claimed that Umno deputy president Mohamad Hasan’s redesignation as foreign minister would weaken his position in the party and benefit Zahid.
The Tasek Gelugor MP said the foreign affairs portfolio, while important for the nation, was not a strategic ministry for someone who could one day challenge Zahid for the Umno presidency.
Zambry, an Umno Supreme Council member, said the Cabinet restructuring was a common practice to strengthen the government’s administration and had nothing to do with politics.
“As the prime minister has mentioned, our focus is on the things we need to implement. The goal of the Madani government is to serve the rakyat as well as we can.”
