Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, Malaysia’s new Deputy Prime Minister, expressed his humility at being appointed to the second-highest political office in the country by PM Najib Razak today.
Speaking after Najib’s press conference announcing the Cabinet reshuffle earlier today at the Prime Minister’s Office in Putrajaya, Zahid said he had never hoped for any position in the Federal Government when he entered the political arena.
“This is a calling that I could not avoid. Najib and I go way back. I was his political secretary when he was the Youth and Sports Minister.
“I never expected anything in return, but Allah has determined this in my fate,” he said, as quoted by The Star Online‘s Rahimah Ghazali.
Zahid replaces Muhyiddin Yassin, who has been stripped of his DPM post to due what Najib described as a need “for the Cabinet to move as one”.
Muhyiddin had been critical of Najib’s handling of the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) case, culminating in a speech he delivered at a Cheras UMNO function on Sunday night where he called for Najib to explain once and for all the details of the scandal to the Malaysian people.
Zahid, who will retain his current portfolio of the Home Ministry, will begin his duties as Deputy Prime Minister tomorrow.
MORE TO COME
Photo: The Malay Mail
