October 18 TMI News — PRIME Minister Muhyiddin Yassin will be reshuffling his cabinet in order to secure Umno’s continued support for his embattled Perikatan Nasional (PN) government, reports Mingguan Malaysia today.
The Bahasa Melayu daily said the reshuffle was Muhyiddin’s “final offer” to Umno to remain in PN.
“The reshuffle may come as early as tomorrow,” said the daily, quoting sources.
Muhyddin, challenged as prime minister by PKR president Anwar Ibrahim and Umno veteran Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah, is also set to meet Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang tomorrow night to settle their differences.
Zahid is reported to have supported Anwar’s claim to the prime ministership.
Umno has openly expressed dissatisfaction with Muhyiddin and Bersatu over the manner they are bullied and sidelined by the newer party.
Following a political bureau meeting last week, Umno said it is reconsidering its support for PN in favour of strengthening its relationship with PAS under the Muafakat Nasional banner.
Umno leaders have separately said that they wanted stronger say in the PN government, including by having more prominent posts in the cabinet. Umno is also reported to be asking for the deputy prime minister’s post.
Mingguan Malaysia further reported that as part of the reshuffle, several key Umno leaders could also be sworn in as senators to pave the way for ministerial posts.
“That is what Umno wants and Muhyiddin has to follow suit as a final warning to ensure Umno does not withdraw its political cooperation from PN,” a source was quoted as saying.
