Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has denied that any Cabinet meeting has ever discussed a reshuffle, stressing that Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim holds full discretion to appoint or replace ministers.
“There has never been any discussion about reorganising the Cabinet,” he told reporters after attending the monthly assembly of the Rural and Regional Development Ministry (KKDW) on Tuesday.
Speculation about a Cabinet reshuffle has intensified following three ministerial vacancies and one minister whose term as senator is set to expire.
The vacant portfolios include the Economy Ministry previously held by Rafizi Ramli and the Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Ministry (NRES) led by Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad, both of whom resigned.
Most recently, Ewon Benedick also stepped down as Minister of Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives on Saturday.
Meanwhile, questions have been raised about the position of Tengku Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz, the Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry (MITI), whose second term as senator ends on December 2.
