Cabinet reshuffle strengthened Zahid but weakened Tok Mat - Wan Saiful

SHAH ALAM - In the wake of the recent Cabinet reshuffle, Bersatu supreme council member Datuk Wan Saiful Wan Jan has offered a critical perspective on the motivations and implications of the changes made by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

One key focal point of Wan Saiful's analysis is the reassignment of Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan, popularly known as 'Tok Mat,' to the role of Foreign Minister.

"This move is strategically aimed at fortifying the position of Umno president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi," Wan Saiful wrote on his Facebook page today.

According to Wan Saiful, by appointing Mohamad to a crucial ministerial position, Anwar is indirectly aiding Zahid by preventing Mohamad from posing a significant challenge to Zahid's leadership within Umno.

Wan Saiful contends that the role of Foreign Minister, while vital to the nation, may not be strategically advantageous to an individual aspiring to challenge Zahid's leadership in Umno.

"The demands of the Foreign Minister's role, which include extensive overseas travel, could weaken Mohamad's standing within Umno despite his service to the nation," he added.

The reshuffle also saw Umno vice president Datuk Seri Khaled Nordin take over the defence portfolio, with former Foreign Minister Zambry Abdul Kadir assuming Khaled's former role.

On another matter, Wan Saiful also slammed Anwar for expanding the size of the Cabinet and appointing former Employees Provident Fund (EPF) chief executive Datuk Seri Amir Hamzah Azizan as Finance Minister II.

Wan Saiful argues that this move signals a lack of confidence in Anwar's backbenchers.

According to Wan Saiful, Anwar's decision to appoint a corporate figure as the second finance minister implies a lack of faith in the competence of his own party members.

"Anwar failed to find a suitable candidate among his own MPs, necessitating the appointment of an "outsider" for the crucial role," he said.