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KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin is in talks about a possible cabinet shakeup in an attempt to appease Umno, who has threatened to withdraw support for the ruling coalition, three sources told Reuters news agency on Tuesday.
The sources asked not to be identified because they were not authorized to speak to the media.
“Umno is negotiating and shows that they are not ready to exit the Perikatan Nasional coalition,” said a source.
Earlier today, the FMT reported that Umno supreme council member Annuar Musa stated the following, party chairman Ahmad Zahid Hamidi had met with Muhyiddin on Umno’s “new conditions” to support the government led by the PN.
He did not provide details about the meeting, but said that discussions on the new Umno conditions were ongoing.
Reuters quoted two sources as saying that Umno and PN are also discussing which districts would run in the upcoming general election. Elections won’t be held until 2023, but some in government have urged snap elections to win a stronger mandate.
Muhyiddin’s and Umno’s office did not immediately respond to requests for comment, Reuters said.
Umno leaders have recently protested against the party’s diminished role in Muhyiddin’s cabinet despite being the largest party in the coalition. Umno high council member Tajuddin Abdul Rahman said last week that a deputy from Umno should be appointed deputy prime minister.
However, Umno Youth leader Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki has called for a political ceasefire amid the resurgence of Covid-19 cases.
