PM has the right to drop any minister - Shahrizat

The decision by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak to drop a few ministers from the Cabinet is not a violation of the law, said Wanita Umno chief Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil.

She said Najib as the prime minister had every right to choose or replace any minister, including the deputy prime minister.

"Under the Federal Constitution, he (Najib) is given absolute authority to select whoever he wishes to become a member of his cabinet team provided they are parliamentarians either from the House of Representatives or the Senate.

She was speaking to reporters after opening the Ipoh Barat UMNO delegates meeting at the Perak state UMNO building, here Saturday.

Also present were Ipoh Barat UMNO chief Datuk Shamsuddin Abdul Ghafar and Ipoh Barat Wanita chief, Datuk Sharifah Hashimah Syed Kamaruddin.

Shahrizat said it was honourable of former Deputy Prime Minister, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, to issue a statement saying that he would remain in the party to carry out his duties and not allow anyone to divide the party.

"We in Wanita UMNO should always place party interest first and lend our support to the party leadership," she said.