Dropping Muhyiddin A Difficult Decision - Malaysian PM

PUTRAJAYA (Malaysia), July 28 (Bernama) -- Najib Razak (right) said the decision to replace Malaysian Deputy Minister Muhyiddin Yassin in the Cabinet was a difficult one indeed but it had to be taken for the Cabinet to function as one solid and unified team. The Malaysian Prime Minister, who dropped Muhyiddin in a Cabinet reshuffle announced Tuesday, said it was necessary for the Cabinet to function as one solid and unified team in any situation, to focus on development plans and the challenges facing the nation. "The decision to replace Muhyiddin Yassin was very difficult, but leadership is about doing what you think is right. To deliver for Malaysia, I must have a solid and unified team moving in the same direction. "I welcome vigorous debate, and can accept dissent and criticism. However, this process should take place in the Cabinet as part of the decision-making process. "Members of the Cabinet should not air their differences in an open forum that can affect public opinion against the Government and Malaysia. "It is contrary to the concept of collective responsibility that is the foundation of Cabinet Government," he said after announcing the Cabinet reshuffle here. Najib thanked Muhyiddin for all his work and dedication to the Government and country. He also thanked those ministers who were no longer in the Cabinet. In the Cabinet reshuffle, Najib dropped Muhyiddin as the Malaysian deputy prime minister and replaced him with Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi (left). He also dropped four other ministers, namely Hasan Malek (Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism), Mohd Shafie Apdal (Rural and Regional Development), G. Palanivel (Natural Resources and Environment) and Dr Ewon Ebin (Science, Technology and Innovation). The new cabinet line-up involves 25 ministries and 37 ministers compared to 24 ministries and 32 ministers before this. (photoBERNAMA) -- BERNAMA