Zahid wary of losing ministerial post in Cabinet reshuffle, says Puad

Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi may have proposed dissolving Parliament instead of a Cabinet reshuffle out of fear of losing his rural and regional development ministry portfolio, according to former party leader Puad Zarkashi.

The former Umno supreme council member said a Cabinet reshuffle would be more appropriate than Zahid’s suggestion of dissolving Parliament, as the 16th general election (GE16) was still some way off.

“Zahid is afraid that a Cabinet reshuffle could see him lose his portfolio at the rural and regional development ministry. Not only that, the portfolios of other BN ministers could also change,” Puad said in a Facebook post.

Zahid, who is also a deputy prime minister, said yesterday that dissolving Parliament would be better than a Cabinet reshuffle, as it would allow the people to give a fresh mandate before a new Cabinet is formed.

Loke Siew Fook stepped down as transport minister yesterday while finance minister II Amir Hamzah Azizan’s appointment as a senator expires in December.

Puad also said BN appeared to be burning its bridges with Pakatan Harapan (PH) by drawing up a joint manifesto with PAS for the Melaka state election.

He said PH would be seen as having no dignity if it failed to take action against BN to uphold the principle of collective responsibility within the unity government.

“The unity government’s name and image will be tarnished if no action is taken,” he said.

Puad cited former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s actions in 1987, when several ministers and deputy ministers who supported the Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah-led “Team B” were dropped from the Cabinet.

“Let us wait and see whether BN ministers will dare to resign if their portfolios are changed,” he said.