PUTRAJAYA - Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim was caught off guard on Wednesday when asked about rumours that former Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin might be rejoining the Cabinet.
“Really? Who told you that?” Anwar responded briefly but sharply when questioned by the media after officiating the National Development Symposium and Awards ceremony in Putrajaya.
His offhand remark instantly added fuel to speculation that a Cabinet reshuffle could be around the corner.
Reports have claimed that Anwar is set to announce the new lineup in early December, with whispers of major shifts in key ministries.
Among the names circulating is Khairy, better known as KJ, who is allegedly being considered for the post of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Minister.
Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani is also tipped to lead the International Trade and Industry Ministry (MITI).
According to insider sources, the Economy Ministry might be merged with the Finance Ministry (MoF), while R Ramanan is expected to be promoted as Entrepreneur and Cooperative Development Minister after Datuk Ewon Benedick’s recent resignation.
Meanwhile, social media couldn’t resist chiming in on the KJ buzz.
“If KJ joins PKR... gets appointed as a senator and then becomes a minister... is that possible?,” @MohdZukri joked.
Another user, @BibasAbas, quipped, “The PM might get nervous if KJ ends up in the kitchen cabinet.”
Others were less impressed.
@ShahArifin wrote, “What’s so special about KJ? There are plenty of other better figures in Malaysia.”
Online chatter aside, the rumour mill keeps spinning as Malaysians await whether Anwar’s surprise was genuine or just good political acting.