KUALA LUMPUR – The upcoming vacancy for the investment, trade and industry minister, currently held by Datuk Seri Tengku Zafrul Abdul Aziz, this December, is seen as a justification for Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to initiate a Cabinet reshuffle, with Umno’s quota potentially coming into play.
Geostrategist and senior fellow at the Nusantara Academy for Strategic Research (NASR) Azmi Hassan said that the quota for this ministerial post should remain with Umno in order to preserve harmony within the Unity Government.
As such, Azmi believes that Umno’s Titiwangsa MP, Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani, is the most suitable candidate to replace Zafrul, whose term as senator ends this December.
“A reshuffle could be done by swapping Johari’s current portfolio as the Plantation and Commodities Ministry with that of the Investment, Trade and Industry Ministry (Miti).
“This is because we’ve seen Johari’s work and performance in the plantation sector and how he handled the challenges posed by Europe over palm oil issues… he knows what he’s doing, and this credibility is exactly what’s needed in a minister.
“The ideal time for a reshuffle is when Tengku Zafrul’s term as senator ends in December – that creates a legitimate reason for the reshuffle due to the vacancy.
“The prime minister would ideally want to avoid a reshuffle given the number of different political parties in his government.
“But the reality is that Zafrul’s post is part of Umno’s quota – and it’s a critical ministerial role, especially with Malaysia facing the issue of US tariffs,” he told Scoop.
Previously, the prime minister said that there would be no cabinet reshuffle despite several prominent figures losing in the current PKR party elections.
He also said the party’s internal elections had no bearing on any cabinet reshuffle.
In the recent PKR branch-level elections, several high-profile figures were defeated by their challengers.
These include Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Minister Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad, Deputy Youth and Sports Minister Adam Adli, Deputy Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives Minister K. Saraswathy, Deputy Energy Transition and Water Transformation Minister Akmal Nasrullah Mohd Nasir, and Petaling Jaya MP and PKR communications director Lee Chean Chung.
Although the branch-level voting has concluded, elections for the Central Leadership Council and national posts for women and youth wings will take place tomorrow.
During the DAP elections last March, Anwar also said that there would be no reshuffle, despite speculation at the time that a minor cabinet reshuffle might occur following the DAP Central Executive Committee (CEC) election results.
Meanwhile, Umno Veterans’ Secretary Datuk Mustapha Yaakub also believes that the vacancy left by Zafrul should be filled by a qualified Umno MP.
“Yes, the prime minister has the absolute right and power to decide who fills the vacancy.
“But there will surely be discussions with the Umno president, who is also the deputy prime minister, Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, as the ministerial post clearly falls under Umno’s quota.
“As chairman of Pakatan Harapan (PH), the prime minister must hold consultations. This is an important position – it can’t be handed to just any leader. Johari is the most suitable candidate, not just because he’s from Umno, but because he is genuinely qualified,” he said. – April 23, 2025