Puad: Cabinet reshuffle talk due to Rafizi's failure to shine

Puad: Cabinet reshuffle talk due to Rafizi's failure to shine


Regarded as one of PKR’s brightest stars, party deputy president Rafizi Ramli, however, has failed to shine in his role as a minister, according to Umno supreme council member Mohd Puad Zarkashi.

He claimed the Pandan lawmaker’s perceived lacklustre performance in managing the economic portfolio has led to speculation of an impending cabinet reshuffle.

“The people have not seen Rafizi (above, right) take any significant steps for the country’s economy…

“Did Rafizi not prepare to become a minister? That is the problem when you have a lot of formulas before becoming a minister.

“When you become a minister, you cannot be ordinary but must be extraordinary,” he added in a Facebook posting today.

Puad said ministers must be “extraordinary” in order to defend the federal government.

The Umno information chief was responding to reports that Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim might axe “incompetent” ministers and senior civil servants.

Apart from ministers, those reportedly on the chopping block are secretaries-general and directors-general from a number of ministries.

However, Anwar, when quizzed on the possible reshuffle, offered a sarcastic retort.

“If you have any suggestions, please write to me, and I will consider them,” he had said.

In a recent interview with Malaysiakini, Bersatu deputy president Ahmad Faizal Azumu, who was part of Pakatan Harapan prior to the infamous Sheraton Move, had also expressed disappointment with Rafizi’s performance.

“I truly believe Rafizi has a brilliant mind but that was when he was an opposition leader.

“Suddenly, after becoming (part of) the government, I don’t know..,” he had said.

On the flip side, Rafizi won praise from electoral watchdog Bersih when it called on Anwar to stop perpetuating the practice of previous administrations with regard to political appointees.

This was after the prime minister announced PKR lawmaker Wong Chen’s appointment as the non-executive chairperson of state-owned enterprise Malaysia Debts Ventures Bhd (MDV).

Rafizi, on the other hand, had called on qualified candidates to submit their applications for the posts of CEOs of two GLCs under his ministry, Teraju and Peneraju.