This article first appeared in The Edge Financial Daily on November 21, 2019

PETALING JAYA: Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad has hinted at the possibility of a cabinet reshuffling following the defeat of Pakatan Harapan in the Tanjung Piai parliamentary by-election.

The Pakatan chairman, however, said the decision “would not be made today or tomorrow”.

“[It will be made] after we study the achievements and capabilities of the existing ministers, and only then we will discuss the possibility of making a cabinet reshuffle,” he said at a media conference after chairing a meeting of the Top Leadership Council of Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) here yesterday.

In making any move towards a cabinet reshuffle, Dr Mahathir conceded that he had to face certain obstacles.

“The constraint is that although I am the prime minister, I have to give consideration to Pakatan’s component parties. I cannot easily change or drop anyone.

“That is why I will take some time,” said the prime minister said, who is also the chairman of Bersatu.

On Pakatan’s defeat in the Tanjung Piai by-election, Dr Mahathir said among other things, it could be “because our party is new, not adequately mature yet, has not organised the party really well in Tanjung Piai and the other places”.

According to him, the high cost of living, the economic situation, aid for the people and so on were among the issues raised.

“Eventually, we feel there is a need for us to have a cabinet reshuffle,” said Dr Mahathir.

“As the prime minister. I am responsible for making cabinet reshuffles, that is why I listen to their (members of the Bersatu top leadership council) views, and I will give consideration to the pressure for a cabinet reshuffle,” said Dr Mahathir.

The prime minister said no radical changes would be made before Malaysia becomes the host for the Summit Meeting of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) scheduled to be held in November next year.

“I feel there is still a lot of work to be done and next year we will host the Apec meeting,” he said, adding that it would be an important international conference that could not be taken lightly.

“I don’t want too many changes to take place because we need to make the necessary preparations as it (Apec) involves many countries. We have to be careful,” the prime minister said.

Meanwhile, Dr Mahathir acknowledged that the many plans launched by the Pakatan government would take time before the results could be seen.

However, he also drew attention to the changes carried out by Pakatan to make the government administration more effective, including reducing corrupt practices.

On the meeting between PKR deputy president Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali and a group of opposition members of Parliament recently, Dr Mahathir said the matter must be resolved at the level of PKR itself.

Describing the matter as an internal problem of PKR, the prime minister suggested that the party investigate the reason for holding the meeting.

“I have not talked to him yet. I do not know why the meeting was held, it involves other parties as well,” he added. — Bernama