Social media abuzz over unverified new Cabinet list
PUCHONG: There is list circulating on the social media platform, purportedly showing the new list of Cabinet members for next year.
The unverified list indicates that PKR president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim will become the new Deputy Prime Minister, replacing his wife Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail.
However, Wan Azizah will retain her post as Women, Family and Community Development Minister.
The list also indicated Tun Daim Zainuddin will become the Finance Minister 1, a post he held back in the 90s. Also listed is former Bank Negara governor Tan Sri Dr Zeti Akhtar Ungku Aziz, who will become Finance Minister II.
DAP secretary general Lim Guan Eng will be moved to the Primary Industries Ministry and Parti Amanah Negara president Mohamad Sabu will change his portfolio from Defence Minister to Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Minister.
PKR deputy president Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali will be moved from the powerful Economic Affairs Ministry to Education Ministry.
Meanwhile, Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin will be moved from Home Ministry to Defence Ministry. Negeri Sembilan Bersatu chief Tan Sri Rais Yatim will lead the Home Ministry.
Since the massive drubbing Pakatan Harapan received at the Tanjung Piai by-election, Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad announced that he may reshuffle the Cabinet before the upcoming APEC summit next year.
The prime minister is also facing pressure from several quarters to relinquish his post to Anwar as soon as possible, which was a promise made by Mahathir himself before the last general election.
The rumour of the Cabinet reshuffle was intensified with Mahathir meeting the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah today.
The Ruler has described the pre-Cabinet meeting with Mahathir as ‘most meaningful’.
In a recent update, The Prime Minister’s Office has announced that the list was fake.
By Irman Hashim
