(July 29): The Penang government today told Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak that he could not run away from giving answers about the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) scandal.

Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said even after his Cabinet reshuffle yesterday to remove those who disagreed with him and had criticised him over the handling of 1MDB, Najib could not cover up the matter.

"A Cabinet reshuffle is normal but this time, it is extraordinary with the sacking of former deputy prime minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin and several other ministers.

"If this was over the 1MDB issue, it is a reason that Malaysians cannot accept. Even investors cannot accept it.

"He (Najib) has to explain... We are worried about the manner of the sacking. If he (Muhyiddin) had done something wrong, we would like to know what," he told reporters at his Komtar office today, adding that the Penang exco was watching the developments closely.

Yesterday, Muhyiddin was dropped from the Cabinet as DPM and education minister. He had on Sunday openly questioned and criticised Najib over the 1MDB issue at a Cheras Umno meeting.

Also booted out was former rural and regional development minister Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal who had also criticised 1MDB before.

Lim said this was a huge development because the number two man in the government had been given the boot.

The last time a deputy prime minister was sacked was in 1998 when Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim was removed over allegations of corruption and sodomy.

"This is not a healthy development because it could worsen the economy. We are not sure if it will bring stability or cause instability.

"Here we are seeing people who want to seek the truth and those who try to expose the truth being punished.

"Those who are alleged of wrongdoing are not facing action... I don't want to talk of Jho Low (businessman Low Taek Jho) because he is a Penang guy. It is embarrassing."

Lim also congratulated new Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi on his appointment.

"He has finally realised his ambition.” – The Malaysian Insider