Cabinet reshuffle has nothing to do with ‘protecting’ Umno president, says Zambry

PUTRAJAYA: The recent Cabinet reshuffle has nothing to do with “protecting” Umno president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, says Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abd Kadir (pic).

The Barisan Nasional secretary-general said it was Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s right to form his own team.

Zambry said that the Cabinet reshuffle was done after Anwar made the best assessment in running the government administration.

“It is also based on feedback from the rakyat to ‘reorganise’ the Cabinet.

“This has nothing to do with politics as speculated by some parties,” he told the media after clocking in at the Higher Education Ministry on his first day as its new minister on Thursday (Dec 14).

There were six portfolio changes and five new ministers appointed in Anwar’s first Cabinet reshuffle, announced on Tuesday (Dec 11).

Anwar’s original Cabinet, which had 28 ministers, has now been expanded to 31, following the split of two ministerial portfolios and the appointment of a second Finance Minister.