PM has own justification in restructuring his Cabinet - Abang Johari

Sarawak Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak has his own justification in announcing the restructuring of his Cabinet on Monday.

As such, he urged all quarters not to overreact at the decision but to look at the national interest first.

He said the prime minister had informed him about the justification for the Cabinet reshuffle during their meeting in Kuala Lumpur Tuesday morning.

"Coincidently, I was in Kuala Lumpur this morning and had the chance to have a bit of discussion with the prime minister.

"I was made to understand that, this time around, the prime minister wants to reduce the number of ministers, and the restructuring of the Cabinet was made to enable Selangor to have a representative in the Cabinet," he told reporters here last night.

Earlier, Abang Johari and wife Datin Amar Juma'ani Tun Tuanku Bujang attended Khatam Al-Quran ceremony and breaking-of-fast event with the staff of Sarawak Islamic agencies at the Sarawak Islamic Council Hall.

Abang Johari, who is also Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) deputy president, also thanked the prime minister because, although a Sarawak Member of Parliament was not appointed as full minister yesterday, he still appointed a deputy minister from Sarawak.

"The decision the prime minister made yesterday does not mean he did not place importance in Sarawak, but the decision was made after looking at comprehensively numerous matters.

"I believe Sarawak still have a big voice in the federal cabinet. We (Sarawak) should look at the overall (picture) because we are only short of one minister's post, but still have six ministers in the Cabinet," he added.