Malaysian ministers asked to 'step down'<\/p>\n
KUALA LUMPUR (AFP): Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad
\nis replacing two veteran ministers in a cabinet reshuffle widely
\nseen as preparing the main ruling party for general elections,
\nsources said on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
Ending days of speculation, Culture, Arts and Tourism Minister
\nSabbaruddin Chik confirmed that Mahathir had asked him to step
\ndown during Wednesday's weekly cabinet meeting.<\/p>\n
\"In politics, stepping down is normal,\" he was quoted as
\nsaying by the official Bernama news agency. \"We can also be
\nremoved. This is normal and the normal way. When we're asked to
\nquit, we quit.\"<\/p>\n
A source close to the cabinet told AFP earlier on Wednesday
\nthat Sabbaruddin was to be replaced by Deputy Home Affairs
\nMinister Abdul Kadir Sheikh Fadzir.<\/p>\n
The source, who asked not to be named, also said that long-
\nserving Information Minister Mohamed Rahmat would be replaced by
\nMohamad Khalil Yaakob, chief minister of the central state of
\nPahang.<\/p>\n
Mahathir is scheduled to announce details of the \"minor
\ncabinet reshuffle\" early Thursday, Bernama reported.<\/p>\n
Mohamed, who has been information minister for 12 years, is
\nsecretary general of the ruling National Front coalition and a
\nformer secretary general of the main coalition party, the United
\nMalays National Organization (UMNO).<\/p>\n
The post of UMNO secretary general is now held by Sabbaruddin,
\nwho is said to be suffering from kidney problems.<\/p>\n
\"We are facing an election at any time,\" a senior UMNO
\nofficial said, adding that the post of secretary general was an
\n\"important post to be filled\" by the party.<\/p>\n
\"Sabbaruddin's health is a big question. He needs rest and
\nmedical attention. Party headquarters needs someone dynamic to be
\nin command.\"<\/p>\n
But Sabbarruddin reportedly denied he was resigning for health
\nreasons. \"I cannot accept that I'm stepping down because of poor
\nhealth. You look at me whether I'm ill or not,\" he was quoted as
\nsaying by Bernama.<\/p>\n
Malaysia, which has been hit by unprecedented political
\nturmoil following the sacking of deputy prime minister Anwar
\nIbrahim in September last year, has to hold elections before the
\ncurrent parliamentary term expires in April next year.<\/p>\n
Mahathir has so far kept everyone guessing but some political
\npundits say he may call an election soon to take advantage of
\nrecent signs of economic recovery and Anwar's jailing for six
\nyear on four corruption charges last month. Anwar faces a new
\ntrial 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
\nParti Islam Semalaysia (PAS).<\/p>\n
The Islamic party recently formed an alliance with three other
\nopposition parties including the Democratic Action Party, the
\nmain opposition party in the federal parliament, and a new party
\nset up by Anwar's wife Wan Azizah Wan Ismail in April.<\/p>\n
The PAS already rules in the northeastern state of Kelantan,
\nthe only state not controlled by the National Front coalition.<\/p>",
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