Liew Chin Tong among potential candidates to replace Anthony Loke

SHAH ALAM - Liew Chin Tong is among the potential candidates to succeed Anthony Loke as Transport Minister without requiring a major Cabinet reshuffle.

International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM) Department of Political Science and Madani Studies senior lecturer Associate Professor Syaza Farhana Mohamad Shukri said the Iskandar Puteri MP had extensive experience in government administration.

She said appointing Liew would also allow DAP to maintain its Cabinet quota without having to move ministers from other portfolios.

"Liew already has a lot of experience and I think it would be a natural progression for him to become Transport Minister, which is not considered a particularly high-profile portfolio.

"There is no need to appoint a minister from another portfolio because that would leave two portfolios requiring new ministers to adjust," she told Sinar on Wednesday.

Syaza said appointing an existing deputy minister could help avoid disruption to the administration as the country approaches the 16th General Election.

Loke resigned from his post effective Tuesday following the Kuala Lumpur High Court's decision allowing former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak to serve the remainder of his prison sentence under house arrest.