Dr M says portfolio changes discussed, denies Tok Pa to be made minister

Dr Mahathir Mohamad has denied that heads will roll in light of speculation that his cabinet will be reshuffled.

However, the prime minister said there were talks on changing ministers' portfolios.

"I told the cabinet, maybe some portfolios will change. But not yet. No cabinet reshuffle, I haven't done it yet.

"If I want to do it I will tell," he said to reporters in Putrajaya today.

Earlier, Mahathir also denied that Jeli MP Mustapa Mohamed would be made a minister again.

"No. There is no reshuffle. No new ministers," he said. 

Speculation has been rife about a reshuffle after the cabinet meeting yesterday.

Prior to Mahathir's remarks, Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng had denied that a reshuffle was discussed.

Mahathir declined to say which portfolios would be swapped, saying that he would reveal it at a later time.

However, he said the performance of the ministers after one year in government had been taken into consideration.

"I think they have had more than a year experience and they are now more able than when they started.

"We have seen their performance. All those things are taken into consideration," the prime minister said.

This is the first time the 94-year-old has indicated a possibility of any changes in the cabinet, after months of speculation about a reshuffle.