PRIME Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim should use the upcoming cabinet reshuffle to appoint more technocrats and professionals, political analyst Dr Azmi Hassan from the Academy of Nusantara Strategic Research said.
He stressed that technocratic appointments — similar to that of Tengku Zafrul Abdul Aziz and Amir Hamzah Azizan — would strengthen the administration as such figures carry “no political liabilities” and could help boost overall government performance.
“Vacancies in the Senate should also be filled with professionals rather than political appointees. They carry no political liabilities,” said Azmi.
Dr Azmi said a reshuffle is “almost certain,” given the number of vacancies in the cabinet and the shifting political landscape.
He described now as the “best time” for Anwar to reorganise his team.
However, he acknowledged that the prime minister must consider the interests of the 18 parties within the unity government.
While “two or three ministers” are believed to be underperforming, any decision must take coalition balance into account.
He also noted that the political ratio within the government has changed following the Sabah state election, particularly with Upko no longer in the equation.
Dr Azmi added that the simplest adjustments can be made within the Pakatan Harapan (PH) ministerial quota, where Anwar has full discretion to determine which positions are most vulnerable and in need of replacement.
Previously, the planned reshuffle, was described by Anwar as minor and is intended to fill gaps created by the departure of ministers, with the government’s current Cabinet expected to remain in office for roughly another one and a half years until the end of his administration.
Among the vacancies are the Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI) following the conclusion of Senator Datuk Seri Tengku Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz’s two-term tenure, the Ministry of Economy after Datuk Seri Rafizi Ramli’s resignation, and the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability following Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad’s exit.
On November 8, Minister for Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives Datuk Ewon Benedick also resigned. – December 7, 2025
