‘Rumba or Salsa?’ Anwar dodges Cabinet reshuffle talk after Zambry’s ‘two weeks left’ quip

 

‘Rumba or Salsa?’ Anwar dodges Cabinet reshuffle talk after Zambry’s ‘two weeks left’ quip



Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim gives a thumbs-up to supporters as he leaves the Festival of Ideas Putrajaya 2025 closing ceremony in Putrajaya, November 7, 2025. — Picture by Raymond Manuel

Friday, 07 Nov 2025 7:48 PM MYT


KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 7 — Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Zambry Abdul Kadir today joked that he may have “two to three weeks left” in office, briefly fuelling speculation of an impending Cabinet reshuffle.

Zambry made the remark during his speech at the closing ceremony of the Putrajaya Festival of Ideas (FOI) 2025, adding that whether he would still be with the ministry “remains to be seen”.

“Again, I hope that the prime minister will continue to support FOI in the coming years. Whether I am still with the ministry or not, that comes second. Because my time’s almost up — maybe two to three weeks left,” he said.

He later clarified to reporters that his remark was meant as a joke.


“I was just joking in my speech earlier. About the Cabinet reshuffle, you need to ask the prime minister,” Zambry said.

When asked the same question, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim gave a cheeky response: “Do you want Rumba dance or Salsa dance?” — a playful wordplay on rombakan, the Malay term for reshuffle.

Zambry’s term as senator is due to expire on December 2, marking two years since his swearing-in on December 3, 2022, before he went on to serve as foreign minister and later, higher education minister.


FOI is a nationwide education expo featuring conferences, exhibitions and forums aimed at promoting innovation and intellectual discourse for national development.

This year’s edition was held from November 4 to 8 at the Putrajaya International Convention Centre.