Cabinet reshuffle no reason to dissolve Parliament, says Fuziah

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 12 — Deputy Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Minister Datuk Fuziah Salleh has cautioned against proposing the dissolution of Parliament solely due to concerns about a recent Cabinet reshuffle, stating that the government's continued functionality and majority support should be the primary focus. The Unity Government, which has been in power for nearly four years, should now concentrate on pressing issues such as investment, job creation, the cost of living, and institutional reform.

Fuziah emphasized that proposing Parliament's dissolution when the government is still in place and holds majority support should not be taken lightly, particularly given that the issue at hand pertains to a Cabinet reshuffle. She argued that a reshuffle is simply part of the process to strengthen administration and shouldn't reignite political uncertainty.

Fuziah drew a lesson from the political instability between 2020 and 2022, during the COVID-19 pandemic, job losses, and cost-of-living pressures, urging the importance of maintaining stability. She stressed that efforts to improve governance, combat corruption, and enhance national institutions require policy continuity and a stable administration to ensure benefits reach the people.

She also cautioned against prioritizing political interests over the nation's future and the well-being of its citizens, who have endured the consequences of political uncertainty for too long. Recently, some quarters have advocated for dissolving Parliament instead of proceeding with a Cabinet reshuffle, following the expiration of Finance Minister II Datuk Seri Amir Hamzah Azizan's term in the Dewan Negara on December 11.