Instead, he said policies and guidelines that had proven to be effective should be retained.

“Ministers come and go, deputy ministers come and go. However, it is crucial to preserve effective policies despite government or leadership changes.

“Don’t make changes, even to good policies just for the sake of creating a legacy,” he said in his speech at the Rural Entrepreneur Carnival 2023 appreciation ceremony.

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, in announcing the first Cabinet reshuffle since the establishment of the unity government, said it was aimed at strengthening the administration in line with current demands and needs.

The reshuffle witnessed an increase in Cabinet members, the dropping of a minister, five new faces and the return of several former ministers.

Several ministers and deputy ministers also swapped portfolios, including Mohamad Hasan, who is the new foreign minister, Khaled Nordin (defence minister) and Zambry Abdul Kadir (higher education minister).