In a brief but acerbic response, Mohd Shafie Apdal said it is up to Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak to reshuffle the cabinet if he believes that championing the interest of the people is not in line with his stand.
The Umno vice-president, a vocal critic of the 1MDB imbroglio, was dropped as rural and regional development minister in the reshuffle announced this afternoon.
"All this while, I have championed the interest of the people and sentiments of the grassroots.
"I voiced my views in order to strengthen Umno and the intention was to place the nation on the right track," Shafie said in a statement.
However, Shafie said if the prime minister believes this does not correspond with his stand, then it is his right to reshuffle the cabinet.
"Since holding a cabinet post, I have carried out the trust (of the people) and responsibility to my utmost best to ensure the well being of the people, especially those in rural areas," he added.
Met by reporters at the residence of Muhyiddin Yassin in Bukit Damansara, Kuala Lumpur, Shafie said: "Never be worried, never be sad when you fight for the rakyat."
Apart from Shafie, Najib also dropped Muhyiddin as deputy prime minister and replaced him with Umno vice-president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
Describing it as a difficult move, Najib said it had to be done in order to ensure the cabinet functioned as one.
Like Shafie, Muhyiddin has also criticised the 1MDB issue and revealed that his advice to the prime minister fell on deaf ears.
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