Cabinet reshuffle may see five ‘new’ faces

PETALING JAYA: Five "new" faces are expected to join the Cabinet in the next reshuffle expected to be before Hari Raya Aidilfitri.
It is understood that both Gerakan president Datuk Mah Siew Keong, who won the just concluded Teluk Intan parliamentary by-election, and MCA chief Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai will be in the new line-up.
According to a report in Sin Chew Daily today, three Umno ministers will be dropped for various reasons. They are Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Anifah Aman, Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerisms Minister Datuk Seri Hassan Malek and Federal Territories Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor.
According to the report, unless Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak changes his mind, MCA may only be given the transport ministery.
This will upset MCA, which is believed to have asked for three ministerial posts.
Will the party, whose new leadership had revoked an earlier decision not to join the Cabinet, do a U-turn at the last minute if its wish is not fulfilled?
However, a source said MCA may be given two ministerial and two deputy ministerial posts.
It said given the present scenario, it would not be reasonable for the party to ask for three ministerial and five deputy ministerial posts as reported earlier. Some Barisan Nasional component parties have already indicated their objections to MCA asking for more positions, it said.
"It is already a bonus if MCA can get two ministerial and two deputy ministerial posts," the source said.
It said based on the allocation of two ministerial and two deputy ministerial posts to MIC, MCA deserves more than one ministerial post but is unlikely to be given three ministerial posts.