Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak has denied that the cabinet reshuffle last week was meant to surround himself with yes-men.

 

On the contrary, he said he does not want yes-men in the cabinet either, but grouses should be voiced through suitable avenues instead of being aired in public.

 

"Some people say I like yes-men (and) Umno will fall if there are only yes-men left. I don't want yes-men, but don't be 'no-men' outside.

"Even if you want to say 'no' there is a place to do that, there is space to do that, and there are means to do that already in place," he said in his officiating speech at the Hulu Selangor Umno division delegates' meeting today today.

 

"If you disagree behind closed doors, I don't mind, you can disagree inside. Even if you want to bang tables, hit it! No problems! Just don't start throwing chairs," he said in his officiating speech at the Hulu Selangor Umno division delegates’ meeting today today.

However once a decision is taken, cabinet members must abide by that decision, he said.

Najib also claimed that when it came to the opposition, its members would defend their leaders regardless whether the allegations against them were true or false.

"Why? Because they know that if their leaders are defended, the party will win and the party will be successful," he explained.

In addition, Najib denied that the cabinet was reshuffled solely to his benefit, at the expense of Umno and the people.

He said that if the cabinet stands together, the people would surely benefit, and promised that his new cabinet would deliver.