Malaysian ministers asked to 'step down'

Malaysian ministers asked to 'step down'

KUALA LUMPUR (AFP): Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad is replacing two veteran ministers in a cabinet reshuffle widely seen as preparing the main ruling party for general elections, sources said on Wednesday.

Ending days of speculation, Culture, Arts and Tourism Minister Sabbaruddin Chik confirmed that Mahathir had asked him to step down during Wednesday's weekly cabinet meeting.

"In politics, stepping down is normal," he was quoted as saying by the official Bernama news agency. "We can also be removed. This is normal and the normal way. When we're asked to quit, we quit."

A source close to the cabinet told AFP earlier on Wednesday that Sabbaruddin was to be replaced by Deputy Home Affairs Minister Abdul Kadir Sheikh Fadzir.

The source, who asked not to be named, also said that long- serving Information Minister Mohamed Rahmat would be replaced by Mohamad Khalil Yaakob, chief minister of the central state of Pahang.

Mahathir is scheduled to announce details of the "minor cabinet reshuffle" early Thursday, Bernama reported.

Mohamed, who has been information minister for 12 years, is secretary general of the ruling National Front coalition and a former secretary general of the main coalition party, the United Malays National Organization (UMNO).

The post of UMNO secretary general is now held by Sabbaruddin, who is said to be suffering from kidney problems.

"We are facing an election at any time," a senior UMNO official said, adding that the post of secretary general was an "important post to be filled" by the party.

"Sabbaruddin's health is a big question. He needs rest and medical attention. Party headquarters needs someone dynamic to be in command."

But Sabbarruddin reportedly denied he was resigning for health reasons. "I cannot accept that I'm stepping down because of poor health. You look at me whether I'm ill or not," he was quoted as saying by Bernama.

Malaysia, which has been hit by unprecedented political turmoil following the sacking of deputy prime minister Anwar Ibrahim in September last year, has to hold elections before the current parliamentary term expires in April next year.

Mahathir has so far kept everyone guessing but some political pundits say he may call an election soon to take advantage of recent signs of economic recovery and Anwar's jailing for six year on four corruption charges last month. Anwar faces a new trial on a separate charge of sodomy next month.

Anwar's sacking has deeply divided ethnic Malays, who account for more than half of Malaysia's population, and support for UMNO is believed to have declined recently in favor of the opposition Parti Islam Semalaysia (PAS).

The Islamic party recently formed an alliance with three other opposition parties including the Democratic Action Party, the main opposition party in the federal parliament, and a new party set up by Anwar's wife Wan Azizah Wan Ismail in April.

The PAS already rules in the northeastern state of Kelantan, the only state not controlled by the National Front coalition.