Summary

  • DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke states that the recent party leadership election results will not affect its current ministerial appointments, even if there is a cabinet reshuffle in December.

  • Loke emphasises that the current deputy finance minister, Lim Hui Ying, has fulfilled her duties well and that state representation is a key factor in ministerial appointments.

  • A cabinet reshuffle is expected in December as Tengku Zafrul Abdul Aziz’s senate term ends, as well as PKR polls in May.

DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke reiterated that the outcome of the party's leadership election on March 16 will not affect its ministerial appointments - even if there is a cabinet reshuffle in December when Tengku Zafrul Abdul Aziz's senate term ends.

Loke said he had made this clear the day after the party election, stressing that the central executive committee results would not affect the party’s federal positions, particularly its ministers and deputy ministers.

"I don’t see the need for it. If anyone says we will reshuffle (DAP’s ministerial lineup) in December, that’s purely speculation. I have no such plans at the moment," he said.

Loke was speaking in a Chinese-language podcast interview with Malaysiakini, where he discussed his second term as secretary-general and the party's new leadership lineup.

The second part of the episode was released yesterday on YouTube, Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

Currently, only two of DAP’s federal appointees are not part of the party’s CEC - Deputy Finance Minister Lim Hui Ying and Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform) M Kulasegaran.

Deputy Finance Minister Lim Hui Ying

Lim lost her bid for re-election in the March 16 CEC vote, while Kula did not contest.

Lim's performance

When asked about Lim’s performance as deputy finance minister, Loke said it was up to the public to evaluate.

However, he emphasised that as of now, Lim has fulfilled her duties to the best of her ability.

"She hasn’t made any major mistakes," the Seremban MP added.

Loke also explained that when deciding on DAP’s ministerial appointments, the party had to consider several factors - one being state representation.

"We’ve already made our decisions. She is also the Penang DAP secretary. Every state needs to be represented and balanced - that’s one of our considerations. She also plays a role in the party," said the transport minister.

During a BFM radio interview on March 3, Zafrul confirmed that he would step down as a minister in December and ruled out any possibility of a by-election to facilitate his return to Parliament and cabinet.

Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Tengku Zafrul Abdul Aziz

This means a cabinet reshuffle is inevitable in December to fill the vacancy left by the investment, trade, and industry minister.

In addition, PKR, helmed by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, is also scheduled to hold its party election in May. Any leadership changes could also potentially lead to changes in its ministerial lineup.

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