00:00Fill vacancies or reshuffle cabinet.
00:02Anthony Lok has stepped down as Transport Minister,
00:05while Finance Minister 2, Datuk Sri Amei Hamzah Azizan's senatorship will end in December.
00:10This has raised questions about whether a cabinet reshuffle is imminent.
00:13But Prime Minister Datuk Sri Anwar Ibrahim has several options.
00:17He could appoint an existing minister to temporarily oversee the Transport Ministry
00:21or name an MP as Lok's replacement.
00:24This would be the simplest move,
00:25allowing the ministry to continue operating without major disruption.
00:29Anwar said he has also yet to receive Lok's resignation letter
00:32and indicated that he will discuss the matter with Lok before accepting.
00:36Alternatively, Anwar could use the opportunity to carry out a wider cabinet reshuffle.
00:41However, bringing in new ministers with only a year left
00:44before the government's term ends would be challenging.
00:47They would have limited time to familiarise themselves with their portfolios,
00:51understand existing policies and implement ongoing programmes.
00:55As for Amei Hamzah, there is a two-term limit for senators.
00:58This means there is still a possibility that he could be sworn in for another term.
01:03Anwar has so far played down speculation,
01:05saying it is too early to consider a reshuffle.
01:07This suggests that the vacancies may simply be filled.
01:10There have also been calls for parliament to be dissolved
01:12rather than a cabinet reshuffle to take place.
01:14But experts believe a dissolution is unlikely this year.
01:17The bigger question is whether Anwar wants to simply fill the two vacancies
01:21or use the opportunity to make changes for the final stretch of his administration
01:25before GE16.
