Pakatan Harapan to meet on Cabinet line-up; Mahathir says 'some heads will roll'

Malaysia’s new Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad gestures during a news conference in Kuala Lumpur, on May 10, 2018. PHOTO: EPA-EFE

Updated

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May 11, 2018, 07:58 AM

PETALING JAYA (THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK) - Newly-minted Malaysian Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said the ruling coalition Pakatan Harapan (PH) will be discussing its Cabinet line-up on Friday (May 11), while promising "some heads will roll".

At his first press conference as Prime Minister, Dr Mahathir vowed that the heads of certain government departments will fall.

"The heads of certain departments must fall. We find that some people are aiding and abetting the former prime minister who was described by the world as 'kleptocrat'," he said told a press conference at a hotel here Thursday (May 10) night.

He said he would be convening a Pakatan presidential council meeting on Friday to discuss the new Cabinet line-up.

"(Tomorrow) we'll have a meeting because we need to discuss the formation of the Cabinet," he said.

Dr Mahathir said that the meeting would consider all the views of Pakatan component parties on a number of issues, which includes policy decisions.

"It will be a very busy time. I will not be going back at 4am. I normally go back at 6am. But, maybe I'll have to extend to 7am," he quipped.

Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad was sworn in as Malaysia's 7th prime minister after a major election victory. ST's Malaysia's bureau chief Shannon Teoh says the Pakatan Harapan government means not just change for the country but challenges as well.

At a press conference earlier Thursday, Dr Mahathir said he would appoint Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) president Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail as deputy prime minister once he is sworn in.

Dr Mahathir also said that the Pakatan-led Federal Government would review previous charges on political leaders, as some of these charges could have been politically motivated.

"We need to look if there is a case. If there is no case, we want to see how we can look at these cases based on the laws of the country."

He also said the new administration would review laws that are oppressive and unfair.

Earlier Thursday, Dr Mahathir was officially sworn in as Malaysia's seventh Prime Minister.

He took his oath of office before Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Muhammad V at the Istana Negara at 9.57pm.

The 93-year-old was accompanied by his wife Tun Dr Siti Hasmah, Dr Wan Azizah, Democratic Action Party (DAP) secretary-general Lim Guan Eng, Parti Amanah Negara president Mohamad Sabu, Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (PPBM) president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin and PKR vice-president Nurul Izzah Anwar.