SHAH ALAM - Speculations are rife over a Cabinet reshuffle within the next few weeks, and this may see the appointment of a deputy prime minister, said a source close to the talks.
He said a team close to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob has urged him to strengthen his administration by appointing an Umno member as the deputy prime minister.
"Two names have been listed. Let's see who gets the position.
"Unless some last-minute changes occur or pressure to call it off, it is all set to go," he said, adding that the discussions are at its final stages.
He said there are also talks of a minor reshuffle with at least two deputies to be replaced. "They are not from Umno," he added.
It is not known if Bersatu will pull out of the government if the reshuffle occurs, which will see Ismail losing his majority support.
"It will also trigger elections," he said.
However, Umno secretary-general Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan told Sinar Daily that would be the prime minister's call. "It is really up to him to decide," he added.
The calls for general elections have been getting louder, especially during the recent Umno General Assembly where the delegates had called on Ismail Sabri to hold GE15 immediately.
A Perikatan Nasional aide told Sinar Daily that there is some discord within his coalition, but "Ismail may not lose his majority as at least two or three Bersatu MPs are expected to jump ship to Umno."
He said as of now two MPs had given assurance to join Umno, "we are waiting for another MP to confirm."
He claimed the anti-hopping laws to stop elected representatives from jumping to another party would likely be tabled after the MP's jump ship.
"It was supposed to have tabled at the last Parliamentary sitting, but now it is pushed forward," the source said.
On March 23, DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke had said that the prime minister had given his commitment to call for a special Parliament sitting to table and pass the anti-party hopping Bill during Ramadan.
Today is the second day of Ramadan.