SINGAPORE, Nov 15 — Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad clarified today that he has no intention to reshuffle the Cabinet, but will consider it if any Pakatan Harapan (PH) component parties insist on it.

The prime minister said it is much too early to assess the six-month-old Cabinet, although he admitted that some ministers are showing their inexperience with being in the government.

"As far as I know, we’re only a six-month-old Cabinet. It’s difficult to assess the performance of the Cabinet,” he told a press conference after the 33rd Asean Summit here.

"I don’t want to change freely like that, because it leads to a lack of confidence.”

Dr Mahathir said the public should give his Cabinet a chance, as they are new to governing.

"I must admit they’re not familiar with being the government. They’re familiar with being the Opposition,” he said.

However, the prime minister refused to say how much longer he will give to his Cabinet members to prove themselves.

Earlier this week, Dr Mahathir told Singapore’s Straits Times that he is open to the possibility of a Cabinet reshuffle following the conclusion of the PKR party elections, but he wants to work with those he is comfortable with.

Besides the PKR polls, there has also been speculation of a Cabinet reshuffle due to public criticism of many first-time federal ministers.

In response, incoming PKR president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng said their parties have not submitted any names for consideration to be ministers as both are unaware of any Cabinet reshuffle.