Written by Stan Lee, Politics Now!
KUALA LUMPUR (Politics Now!) - Last-minute jockeying for a spot in Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim's Cabinet is still ongoing - but it looks the much-delayed 'reshuffle' may prove to be another fiasco.
Instead of weeding out the 'deadwood', and there are plenty in his hugely underperforming Cabinet, he is expected to make only a few key changes.
"NOBODY HAS THE FINAL LIST YET"
The biggest change will be replacing the very unpopular Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek with Nik Nazmi, the current Environment minister, who is also from their PKR party.
DAP's senior leader Gobind Singh, a former communications minister who performed much better than the current minister Fahmi Fadzil, is also likely to make a comeback - but this time as Human Resource minister replacing V Sivakumar.
Fahmi, despite his heavy-handed clampdowns on the press and social media that have dragged down the image of the Anwar administration, is expected to stay on. The same goes for Anwar's close aide Saifuddin Nasution, who will remain as Home minister despite his 'confused' and controversial handling of several key issues.
Speculation is also swirling Anwar will finally appoint a second finance minister - a post much eyed by Umno's Johari Ghani, who previously held the post during the Najib Razak regime. However this time, media reports are betting it will be Amir Hamzah Azizan, the chief executive officer of the Employees Provident Fund who will get the coveted job.
Nonetheless, some still expect Johari to get in although there is still debate over what portfolio he will hold. As for Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad, the former Health minister, Politics Now! was told he is unlikely to get in.
Amanah's Mohamad Sabu, the Agriculture minister, is tipped to switch over to another portfolio. It might be the Domestic Trade ministry to fill the vacancy left by party mate Salahuddin Ayob, who had died earlier this year due to illness. But again, this is not confirmed and Sabu may get another portfolio instead.
"Nobody has the final list yet," an insider told Politics Now! "For Johari Ghani, it's a maybe whether he even gets into the Cabinet or not. For Dr Dzul, it's a no. For Mat Sabu, he will be switched out but not confirmed where."
ADDITIONS ONLY - WITHOUT TRIMMING THE DEADWOOD?
According to news reports, a swearing-in ceremony of ministers is scheduled at Istana Negara at 2.30pm tomorrow.
According to sources, apart from taking the oath of office, loyalty and secrecy, the new members of the Cabinet will also be awarded their respective letters of appointment during the ceremony.
Last week, Anwar had sparked alarm when he hinted of "additions" to his already large Cabinet while making excuses for the underperformers who had angered the public.
"I think not too far off… but I think after a year, we need to make a fair assessment. People who rule for a decade, three years… a year is too early, so ministers should be given the chance to boost their performance, including the prime minister," Anwar had told the press.
“Then if there is a bit of adjustments based on our one-year experience, we will do it, including additions if needed.”
Written by Stan Lee, Politics Now!
Politics Now!
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