West coast floods anomalous, no need for cabinet reshuffle: govt MPs

KUALA LUMPUR – The bungling and lackadaisical response by several ministers in tackling the recent catastrophic floods does not warrant a cabinet reshuffle, according to lawmakers.

This is amid speculation that some names may have been dropped.

Speaking to The Vibes, they said the disaster that affected a huge number of states and wreaked havoc on the west coast of the peninsula was an anomaly that took everyone by surprise.

The lawmakers claimed to be in the dark over the rumoured reshuffling of the cabinet and said no discussions had been held or decision made at the party level.

Outspoken Umno veteran and Padang Rengas MP Datuk Seri Nazri Abdul Aziz described the recent catastrophe as a “one-off” disaster that hit the country in an abrupt fashion, catching many off guard, and said it would not be justified to pin the blame on any individual.

Personally, I don't think it warrants a reshuffle. This government has just been formed for slightly over 100 days. It's very new and not that solid yet, as we (Barisan Nasional) have to share the administration with other parties.

“I don’t think there’s any reason for Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob to shake up the cabinet,” he said, adding that the looming general election, rumoured this year, meant it would be unwise to make drastic changes.

“But so far, I have not heard any news on this. There is no discussion within Umno that I know of.”

Fellow party member Umno secretary-general Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan had also brushed off the rumours of a reshuffle as mere speculation.

In an article uploaded by news portal Suara.TV yesterday, there were claims that Ismail Sabri expected to hold a four-eyed meeting with Bersatu president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin to discuss the cabinet shake-up that could see two from Bersatu and one from Umno axed. 

The two allegedly from Bersatu are Special Functions Minister Datuk Abdul Latiff Ahmad and Women, Family, and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Rina Harun, both of whom had come under heavy criticism in recent weeks.

Abdul Latiff was lambasted for supposedly being slow to respond to the flood and mobilise government assets when the disaster first hit last month, while Rina has been under fire for her less than impressive public display of late.

The Umno lawmaker said to be on the chopping board is Datuk Halimah Mohamed Sadique, who was recently caught in a controversy over her handling of the Malaysian Indian Transformation Unit (Mitra) issue.

Deputy National Unity Minister Wan Ahmad Fayhsal Wan Ahmad Kamal, when asked if the aforementioned cabinet members had underperformed in their duties in regard to the flood, said the disaster was unprecedented.

It was unexpected, in a way, and had stretched the government’s resources. At best, it was an anomaly. Our preparations were mostly focused on the east coast, but the disaster suddenly struck the Klang Valley.

“But I think we cannot be giving excuses. Whatever mistakes we have made, I think the government is trying its best to correct those deficiencies,” he said when contacted.

Wan Fayhsal, who is Bersatu Youth chief and a senator, said his party also had not had any meetings to discuss the possibility of a cabinet reshuffle.

However, he said should Ismail Sabri decide to opt for a shake-up, the prime minister ought to keep to the agreed arrangement on the ministerial portfolios for each respective party in the government.

“The distribution of the portfolio is clear, and it is what we see in the cabinet today. That was the arrangement when we supported Ismail Sabri as prime minister to form the government.

Whether there should be a reshuffle, that is his prerogative, but it is subject to consent from Bersatu, because the government is a coalition of not only Umno. But again, Ismail Sabri is the captain of the ship. So, he decides, and as a deputy minister, I will follow.”

Meanwhile, Bersatu’s Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Economy) Datuk Eddin Syazlee Shith similarly said he has not heard any news of a possible cabinet reshuffle and regards it as a mere rumour. – The Vibes, January 4, 2022