GEORGE TOWN, July 28 — Penang Umno today threw their full weight behind Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s decision to reshuffle his Cabinet, especially after two of the state’s MPs were included in the federal administration.
Penang Umno Liaison Committee chairman Datuk Seri Zainal Abidin Osman said they were grateful to Najib for retaining Balik Pulau MP Datuk Seri Dr Hilmi Yahaya and signing on Kepala Batas MP Datuk Seri Reezal Merican Naina Merican in the revamped Cabinet.
Hilmi continues his role as deputy health minister while Reezal Merican has been made deputy foreign affairs minister.
“Penang Umno also wishes to offer our full support to Najib on the reshuffle to strengthen the Cabinet in facing the challenges of managing the country before the next general elections,” Zainal Abidin said in a statement issued today.
Zainal Abidin said he is confident that the new Cabinet line-up has the commitment and focus to push Putrajaya’s development agenda.
Najib dropped Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin as deputy prime minister and education minister in today’s Cabinet shakeup, ostensibly for questioning the prime minister over his alleged links to the 1Malaysia Development Board (1MDB) scandal.
Others who were also culled were Umno vice-president Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal, MIC President Datuk Seri G. Palanivel, Umno Supreme Council member Datuk Seri Hasan Malek and Upko’s Datuk Ewon Ebin.
Zainal Abidin congratulated Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi for his appointment as deputy prime minister and home minister and at the same time thanked Muhyiddin for his previous contributions to the country as the deputy prime minister.
