KUALA LUMPUR: Newly appointed Defence Minister Mohamad Sabu defended Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s decision in appointing him and two others to three senior Cabinet posts.
Responding to PKR vice president Rafizi Ramli’s accusation that Dr Mahathir had bulldozed the posts, Mohamad, who is fondly known as “Mat Sabu” told a local news portal that the decision was conclusive.
He said while Pakatan Harapan component parties were free to propose candidates for ministerial posts, the Prime Minister had the final say.
“It is up to the Prime Minister to elect. It’s his prerogative,” he said.
Mohamad, who is also Parti Amanah Negara president, said the matter had been decided by the presidential meeting of the new federal government, PH.
At a press conference yesterday, Dr Mahathir had announced the appointment of Mohamad as the Defence Minister as well as Lim Guan Eng as Finance Minister and Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin as Home Affairs Minister.
Following the announcement, Rafizi posted on his official website that PKR was not consulted and the decision was unilateral.