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Malaysia cabinet photo session unrelated to parliament dissolution, says spokesperson
๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡พ Malaysia /Elections & Politics

Malaysia cabinet photo session unrelated to parliament dissolution, says spokesperson

From Utusan Malaysia · () Malay

Translated from Malay, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Sources not specified New plan
  • A Malaysian government spokesperson denied social media rumors linking a photo session of the cabinet to the dissolution of parliament.
  • The photo session was held to include new cabinet members appointed after a December reshuffle, according to the spokesperson.
  • The session was scheduled on a day when ministers were already in ceremonial attire for another event, making it a convenient time for the group photo.

Kuala Lumpur: Government spokesperson Fahmi Fadzil has dismissed speculation that a recent cabinet photo session signaled an imminent dissolution of parliament. He clarified that the gathering was to officially photograph new members appointed during a December cabinet reshuffle.

It's not true (the claim linking it to parliament's dissolution). So actually the Prime Minister indeed had the intention to take a photo of the cabinet because there are new cabinet members.

โ€” Fahmi FadzilResponding to social media speculation about the dissolution of parliament.

Fahmi, who also serves as the Minister of Communications, explained that Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim had long intended to hold such a session but had not found a suitable opportunity until now. "It's not true (the claim linking it to parliament's dissolution)," he stated during a weekly press conference. "The Prime Minister indeed had the intention to take a photo of the cabinet because there are new cabinet members."

From the time of the appointment and reshuffle of the cabinet in December last year until now, there has not been an opportunity to hold such a photo session.

โ€” Fahmi FadzilExplaining the delay in holding the cabinet photo session.

The timing of the photo session was influenced by the ministers' attendance at the Dataran Pahlawan for the Flag Parade, where they were required to wear ceremonial Number One Dress. "Today is the Flag Parade Ceremony day, so the cabinet members came to Dataran Pahlawan wearing Number One Dress," Fahmi said. "So the Prime Minister's Department thought this was a suitable time to take the picture (as everyone was fully dressed). There is no issue, it is a normal matter."

Today is the Flag Parade Ceremony day, so the cabinet members came to Dataran Pahlawan wearing Number One Dress. So the Prime Minister's Department thought this was a suitable time to take the picture (as everyone was fully dressed). There is no issue, it is a normal matter.

โ€” Fahmi FadzilExplaining the convenient timing of the photo session.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Utusan Malaysia in Malay. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.