KUALA LUMPUR, July 28 — Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal was among the casualties in today’s Cabinet reshuffle by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, losing his rural and regional development portfolio.

Shafie’s removal has been rumoured for weeks, and traces back to his early criticism over the 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) controversy.

Last month, rumours also claimed that Shafie would resign as minister to protest Putrajaya’s handling of 1MDB, although he later denied this.

Following his removal from the Cabinet today, Shafie insisted that his criticism was a reflection of the grassroots’ views.

Other casualties in the reshuffling of the Cabinet today were Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, who was dropped as deputy prime minister, Datuk Seri G. Palanival, Datuk Seri Hasan Malek, and Datuk Dr Ewon Ebin.

Explaining his decision, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak said that dissent and criticism was acceptable, but must not be public as doing so was detrimental to the image of the administration.