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.