Former prime minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi hoped the new cabinet would act quickly in resolving relevant current issues.

“Leaving issues unresolved for too long will invite more problems. Fast action is needed,” he said when asked to comment on the new line-up.

Abdullah said the line-up should be allowed to implement its plan unhindered.

“It is not an easy task but I hope they will work earnestly to make it a success,” he told reporters after launching the National Islamic Economics and Finance Conference 2015 in Bangi today.

Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak reshuffled his cabinet yesterday, dropping Muhyiddin Yassin as his deputy and replacing him with Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

Najib also named seven new ministers, dropped five of the old guard and shuffled some of the portfolios.

On the timing of the reshuffle and ongoing investigations into 1MDB, Abdullah said it was best not to jump to conclusions.

“Give them (cabinet) a chance to sort it out. If they cannot.. then that would be a problem,” he said.

On Muhyiddin’s expulsion from the cabinet, he said it was the prime minister’s prerogative. “He must have a reason to do that,” he said.

On Ahmad Zahid’s appointment, he said, “Give him a chance.”

On Abdul Gani Patail’s termination as attorney-general, Abdullah said it was “quite unexpected”.

Chief secretary to the government Ali Hamsa said in a statement yesterday that Abdul Gani’s service as attorney-general was terminated on July 27 for health reasons.

- Bernama