Zahid wants FT ministry brought back in event of Cabinet reshuffle

Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi says he hopes the federal territories ministry will be brought back in the event of a Cabinet reshuffle, as speculation continues of a shake-up in Putrajaya nearly a year after the Nov 19 polls last year.

Zahid, the Umno president, told reporters in Putrajaya yesterday that he believed a reshuffle was on the cards, citing the vacancy in the domestic trade and cost of living ministry left by the late Salahuddin Ayub.

"Probably there is (reshuffle). I think it will be soon," he was reported as saying by Bernama.

When asked about talk that he would be appointed to lead the home ministry, he said he was ready to shoulder any responsibility given to him. 

He also expressed hope that the federal territories ministry, administratively restructured following the last general election, would be recreated.

"I am prepared to serve any ministry," he said. "The important thing is that the Cabinet reaches a consensus.

"Even though I am holding the rural and regional development ministry, I am at the same time heading several Cabinet-level committees and task forces which involve various ministries, and I am bearing such responsibilities in the interest of the unity government."

The federal territories ministry was reorganised as a department in December last year. Now known as the Federal Territories Department, it comes under the purview of the Prime Minister's Department.

Its last minister was Arau MP Shahidan Kassim, who held the portfolio from August 2021 until the 15th general election.