PRIME MINISTER Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has hinted that any changes to his Cabinet will be limited to filling existing vacancies rather than a full-scale reshuffle, citing the short remaining tenure of his administration.
“The Cabinet has only about one and a half years left to serve, so I do not believe a major reshuffle is necessary. We need to fill a few vacancies, but that is all,” Anwar told reporters today following the launch of Perodua’s first electric vehicle, the QV-E on Monday.
Currently, three ministerial posts remain unfilled. The Ministry of Economic Affairs and the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment became vacant after Datuk Seri Rafizi Ramli and Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad resigned in May following defeats in PKR party elections.
The Ministry of Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives was vacated by Datuk Ewon Benedick on 8 November, amid issues related to Sabah’s 40 per cent entitlement of federal net revenue from the state confirmed by the Kota Kinabalu High Court.
Tomorrow, Tengku Zafrul Abdul Aziz will complete his term as Senator, effectively ending his tenure as Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry (MITI).
Three other ministers are also concluding their first term as Senators: Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail, Minister of Home Affairs; Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abd Kadir, Minister of Higher Education; and Datuk Dr Mohd Na’im Mokhtar, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department for Religious Affairs.
Anwar emphasised that the government’s immediate priority is to fill these essential posts, rather than undertaking sweeping changes. “I am considering the steps to be taken, but filling the vacancies is necessary,” he said.
The Prime Minister’s remarks underline a likely cautious approach to Cabinet management, prioritising stability and continuity in governance over political manoeuvring as the administration navigates its remaining term. - December 1, 2025
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