Mahathir reshuffles cabinet to improve party before polls<\/p>\n
KUALA LUMPUR (AFP): Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad
\nannounced on Thursday he had replaced three ministers as part of
\na cabinet reshuffle widely seen as preparing the main ruling
\nparty for general elections.<\/p>\n
Mahathir told a news conference that two veteran politicians
\nfrom the main ruling party had tendered their resignations two
\nweeks ago.<\/p>\n
\"No reasons were given,\" he said, adding that the third
\nresignation involved a minister who was transferring to the state
\nassembly in the eastern state of Sabah after winning a seat in
\nMarch local elections.<\/p>\n
\"Maybe we can say it will strengthen the administration of the
\ngovernment.\" Mahathir said.<\/p>\n
Asked about the timing of general elections, which have to be
\nheld before the current term of parliament expires in April next
\nyear, Mahathir said: \"The date has to be convenient to the ruling
\nparty. We will make our assessment based on the weather and
\npublic holidays.\"<\/p>\n
Under the reshuffle, Mohamad Khalil Yaakob, chief minister of
\nthe central state of Pahang, emerges as both information minister
\nand secretary general of the main ruling party, the United Malays
\nNational Organization (UMNO).<\/p>\n
Both positions are seen as important posts before an election,
\nespecially given signs of increased support for the opposition
\nParti Islam Semalaysia (PAS) following the sacking of deputy
\npremier Anwar Ibrahim in September last year.<\/p>\n
Khalil, widely credited with helping to secure the coalition's
\nvictory in the recent Sabah elections, replaces UMNO veteran
\nMohamed Rahmat as information minister although Mohamed retains
\nhis position as secretary general of the ruling National Front
\ncoalition.<\/p>\n
Culture, Arts and Tourism Minister Sabbaruddin Chik, who
\npreviously held the post of UMNO secretary general, was replaced
\nby Deputy Home Affairs Minister Abdul Kadir Sheikh Fadzir.<\/p>\n
The prime minister also said that Pandikar Amin Mulia, head of
\na coalition party in Sabah, had been appointed minister in the
\nprime minister's department to replace Chong Kah Kiat who is
\ntaking up his seat in the Sabah state assembly.<\/p>\n
A senior party official said Khalil was UMNO's number two man
\nduring the Sabah election campaign under Deputy Prime Minister
\nAbdullah Ahmad Badawi.<\/p>\n
\"He has proven his capabilities. He is healthy, strong and
\nexperienced,\" he told AFP, adding that he was able to \"work
\nclosely\" with Mahathir and Abdullah.<\/p>\n
\"We are facing an election at any time,\" the UMNO official
\nsaid. \"Party headquarters needs someone dynamic to be in
\ncommand.\"<\/p>\n
Although Mahathir has so far kept everyone guessing about a
\npoll date, some analysts say he may call an election soon to take
\nadvantage of recent signs of economic recovery and last month's
\njailing of Anwar for six years on corruption charges. Anwar faces
\na new trial on a separate charge of sodomy next month.<\/p>\n
Anwar's sacking has deeply divided ethnic Malays, who account
\nfor more than half of Malaysia's population, and support for UMNO
\nis believed to have declined recently in favor of the opposition
\nIslamic party.<\/p>\n
PAS recently formed an alliance with three other opposition
\nparties including the Democratic Action Party, the main
\nopposition party in the federal parliament, and a new party set
\nup by Anwar's wife Azizah in April.<\/p>\n
The Islamic party already rules in the northeastern state of
\nKelantan, the only state not controlled by the National Front
\ncoalition.<\/p>\n
As a result of Thursday's reshuffle, Mahathir said Deputy
\nHousing and Local Government Minister Azmi Khalid would succeed
\nAbdul Kadir as deputy home affairs minister. At the same time,
\nstate assembly member Adnan Yaacob was appointed to succeed
\nKhalil as chief minister of Pahang.<\/p>",
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