Ismail Sabri Yaakob not immediately replacing Ampang MP Zuraida Kamaruddin as the plantation industries and commodities minister despite her defection from Bersatu to Parti Bangsa Malaysia (PBM) led to speculation that the prime minister is carefully weighing his tenuous position.

Ismail Sabri commands the support of 116 MPs out of 220 filled seats in the Dewan Rakyat, including three from PBM.

The three in PBM are...