PUTRAJAYA: No Pakatan Harapan top leadership disagreed to the possible cabinet reshuffle, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said.
The prime minister and PH chairman pointed out that coalition leaders who attended the presidential council meeting yesterday were informed of the plans for the cabinet reshuffle during the three-hour meeting.
“They are not against it. They didn’t say ‘please don’t reshuffle (sic) me’,” he said at the Perdana Leadership Foundation here.
When asked whether he would include PKR president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim in his new lineup, Dr Mahathir said: “I haven’t made a decision yet. Everything is possible.”
The government, he added, would consider the people’s grouses before announcing the reshuffle.
He said some people were supportive of the current cabinet lineup but were not as vocal as those who were unhappy.
“We have to make an assessment as to who we should follow, those who are against or for the reshuffle,” he said.
It was reported that Dr Mahathir, who is also Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) chairman, announced the possibility of a cabinet reshuffle, possibly before the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) meeting next year.
Meanwhile, Dr Mahathir dismissed rumours of infighting within the pact, and said all leaders were able to sit together in the meeting rationally.
“There was no accusations or curse words being thrown at anyone.”
He said there was no divide in the PH leadership, but said there might be grassroots members who were dissatisfied and did not have the right facts in hand.
He added that while the coalition practised freedom of speech, he hoped members who had problems would raise them to their own committee or directly to the presidential council.
“This is so the public do not perceive us being divided.”
The meeting also touched on PH’s poor performance at the Nov 16 Tanjung Piai by-election, Dr Mahathir said.
He noted that PH’s loss was a “warning” from the public for the coalition to improve on addressing issues, especially on the cost of living.
“The council heard a post-mortem briefing of the by-election and the PH leadership takes note of the criticisms made.
“Each of us have understood our own mistakes and will take the appropriate action.”