Zahid takut hilang portfolio KKDW jika Kabinet dirombak, dakwa Puad

Zahid Hamidi, the deputy prime minister, suggested that disbanding the cabinet would be a better action due to the distance to the 16th General Election (PRU16), as opposed to what Umno President Zahid Hamidi proposed - dissolving Parliament. Puad Zarkashi, a former Umno Supreme Council member, criticized Zahid's proposal on Facebook, questioning whether other BN ministers would dare to relinquish their portfolios if they were altered in a cabinet reshuffle.

He also pointed out that portfolios of other BN ministers might change as well. Zahid, who is also the Deputy Prime Minister, argued that dissolving Parliament would be preferable to allow the people to give a new mandate before the newly formed Cabinet is formed. This comment came in response to the vacancies of the Transportation Minister Loke Siew Fook's position and the end of the tenure of Finance Minister II Amir Hamzah Azizan, who became a senator in December.

Puad further criticized the BN, which was seen as divided by forming a joint manifesto with Pakatan Harapan (PH) after the 13th General Election. Puad pointed out that PH would be viewed as untrustworthy if they failed to take action against BN to uphold the principle of shared responsibility in a united government. He referenced former Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad's actions in 1987 when several ministers and deputy ministers supporting Team B, led by Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah, were removed from the Cabinet.

Puad stated that the cautious political approach of the past is over, and the development should be handled with action, not just statements. "We wait, if portfolios of BN ministers change, are they brave enough to take on their new roles?" he asked.