Zahid: Better to Dissolve Parliament Than Reshuffle Cabinet

Calls for an early general election have surfaced after Transport Minister Anthony Loke’s resignation, with Umno and DAP leaders taking opposing positions.

Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, who is also Umno president and BN chairman, said on Tuesday he sees no need for a Cabinet reshuffle.

Zahid: Better to Dissolve Parliament Than Reshuffle Cabinet

He said it would be better to dissolve Parliament and give people a fresh mandate, after which a new Cabinet can be formed. He also alluded to a minister who had committed to resigning once Najib Razak began serving his sentence at home.

Earlier that day, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said it was too early to discuss a reshuffle. Utusan Malaysia reported that any changes could involve just two posts: Transport, and Second Finance Minister, whose holder’s Senate term ends on 11 December.

Speaking at a Pakatan Harapan event in Melaka on Tuesday night, Loke, DAP’s secretary-general, said Anwar should not bow to pressure to dissolve Parliament.

He said that power rests solely with the Prime Minister, who he said has the mandate and enough support in Parliament for another year.

He said some were trying to capitalise on current momentum, and that DAP would keep supporting Anwar to the end of the government’s term.