TOKYO: Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida set about replacing key cabinet members on Thursday as he battled to control the damage from one of the biggest scandals his ruling party has faced in decades.
Chief cabinet secretary Hirokazu Matsuno and industry minister Yasutoshi Nishimura were among those who announced their resignations on Thursday after Kishida said he was finalising his third cabinet shake-up in 16 months.
Four ministers - all hailing from the biggest and most powerful faction within the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) that is being investigated by prosecutors - and several deputy ministers are set to be replaced.
Ex-foreign minister Yoshimasa Hayashi confirmed he had been tapped to replace Matsuno in the critical post responsible for coordinating policy across government on the premier's behalf.
"In light of the various allegations made regarding political funds, which have shaken the public trust in politics, and the various allegations made regarding my own political funds, I have submitted my resignation," Matsuno said at a press conference on Thursday.
Prosecutors have launched a criminal probe into the LDP's so-called Abe faction, named after late premier Shinzo Abe, and begun questioning dozens of lawmakers for allegations of receiving about 500 million yen ($3.5 million) in fundraising proceeds missing from party accounts, news outlets reported.
Investigators will start searching for evidence in lawmakers' offices from as early as next week, according to broadcaster NTV.
The probe will also examine whether other LDP factions - including one led by Kishida until last week - are involved, according to the reports.
The prosecutors office said it could not immediately comment on any ongoing investigation when contacted by Reuters.
'FURTHER DISRUPTION'
Some political observers have compared the affair to the so-called Recruit scandal in the late 1980s when allegations of insider trading led then prime minister Noboru Takeshita and several other top government officials to resign.
Since news of the latest scandal broke a few weeks ago, Kishida has seen his public support drop to around 23%, the lowest since he came into office in October 2021, recent polls have showed.
Support for the LDP has also fallen below 30% for the first time since 2012, when it returned to power after a blip in its near total post-war dominance of Japanese politics, according to an NHK poll this week.
The prime minister does not need to hold an election until October 2025, and a fractured and weak opposition has historically struggled to make sustained inroads into the LDP's hold on power.
The LDP will hold leadership elections in September.
But analysts say it remains to be seen how long Kishida can stay in the top job as the scandal throws his government into disarray.
A top LDP official who oversees budget proposals has also resigned, while Kishida is considering shelving a planned trip to Brazil and Chile next month due to his domestic problems, according to media reports.
"Kishida’s popularity has really taken a hit, so whatever he does he can’t do much to improve that," said Jun Iio, Professor of Political Studies at the National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies in Tokyo.
"He’s replacing his ministers while the government is still compiling its budget. That could cause further disruption, and on top of that, there’s no knowing if there might be more ministers who actually have similar problems."
Reuters
Thu Dec 14 2023
![Japan PM overhauls cabinet in bid to weather financial scandal Japan PM overhauls cabinet in bid to weather financial scandal](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2023-12/71702526392_FumioKishida.jpg)
Japan PM Fumio Kishida said he will replace several ministers implicated in a political fundraising scandal. - FRANCK ROBICHON/via REUTERS
![Kerajaan lihat semula perjanjian penjualan air kepada Singapura - Fadillah Kerajaan lihat semula perjanjian penjualan air kepada Singapura - Fadillah](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/81720085306_FadillahYusof.jpg)
Kerajaan lihat semula perjanjian penjualan air kepada Singapura - Fadillah
Fadillah berkata perkara itu sudah berlaku ketika zaman pentadbiran bekas Perdana Menteri Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad lagi.
![Pelancong asing ditahan disyaki cabul pekerja spa di Pulau Perhentian Pelancong asing ditahan disyaki cabul pekerja spa di Pulau Perhentian](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2022-07/51658407048_Cabul.jpg)
Pelancong asing ditahan disyaki cabul pekerja spa di Pulau Perhentian
Polis menahan seorang pelancong lelaki warga Maghribi kerana disyaki mencabul seorang juruterapi wanita rakyat tempatan di Pulau Perhentian.
Warga Thailand seludup diesel dihadapkan mahkamah
Seorang pemandu lori warga Thailand dihadapkan ke mahkamah atas menyeleweng 322 liter minyak diesel minggu lalu.
ADUN Rembia sertai Pas: YB Kampar minta buka riben putih
Susulan pengumuman ADUN Rembia sertai Pas dalam sidang media, YB Kampar, Chong Zhemin kemuka Peraturan Mesyuarat dan menyifatkan satu penghinaan besar buat Parlimen.
#SisiTVParlimen
#AWANInews
#SisiTVParlimen
#AWANInews
![Malaysia, Brunei dalam proses rundingan muktamad sempadan darat negara - Mohamad Malaysia, Brunei dalam proses rundingan muktamad sempadan darat negara - Mohamad](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/41720590984_DatukSeriMohamadH.jpg)
Malaysia, Brunei dalam proses rundingan muktamad sempadan darat negara - Mohamad
Mohamad Hasan berkata buat masa ini, kerja-kerja penandaan dan pengukuran di lapangan telah meliputi 175.96 km atau 33.3 peratus daripada keseluruhan jarak sempadan.
Kim Pan Gon undur diri kesan kepada Harimau Malaya
Apa reaksi peminat Harimau Malaya dan penganalisis sukan mengenai peletakan jawatan Kim Pan-Gon?
Masuk Pas untuk sama-sama susah dengan rakyat - ADUN Rembia
Muhamad Jailani berkata, sebelum ini beliau pernah menghantar surat kepada Lembaga Disiplin UMNO memohon untuk memecat keahliannya daripada parti Melayu itu.
![Perang berlarutan antara punca kelewatan penghantaran Black Hawk Perang berlarutan antara punca kelewatan penghantaran Black Hawk](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-04/51712121864_TBADLYZAHARIjp.jpg)
Perang berlarutan antara punca kelewatan penghantaran Black Hawk
Perkara itu dimaklumkan pihak Aerotree Defence and Services Sdn Bhd iaitu syarikat yang dipertanggungjawabkan dalam kontrak perolehan perkhidmatan sewaan helikopter berkenaan.
Keghairahan final Euro 2024 dibawakan ke restoran mamak
Kemeriahan dan keghairahan perlawanan final UEFA EURO 2024 antara Sepanyol dengan England di Berlin, Jerman dirasai di Malaysia, dibawakan oleh 'Astro BizOne Watch Party' di Restoran Hakim, Seksyen 7, Shah Alam.
![Polis kesan remaja lelaki hilang sejak enam hari lepas Polis kesan remaja lelaki hilang sejak enam hari lepas](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/61721115027_MuhammadAdiLagik.jpg)
Polis kesan remaja lelaki hilang sejak enam hari lepas
Polis sedang berusaha mengesan seorang remaja lelaki yang dilaporkan hilang oleh keluarganya di Kuala Pilah sejak enam hari lepas.
![Pertemuan PM Anwar-Kishida nilai kemajuan kerjasama Malaysia-Jepun Pertemuan PM Anwar-Kishida nilai kemajuan kerjasama Malaysia-Jepun](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-05/81716449486_tbbilateralduahal.jpg)
Pertemuan PM Anwar-Kishida nilai kemajuan kerjasama Malaysia-Jepun
Menerusi pertemuan itu, kedua-dua pemimpin dapat menilai kemajuan kerjasama antara Malaysia dan Jepun meliputi pelbagai bidang.
![Anwar tiba di Tokyo untuk lawatan kerja tiga hari Anwar tiba di Tokyo untuk lawatan kerja tiga hari](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-05/71716385708_tbAnwarIbrahim.jpg)
Anwar tiba di Tokyo untuk lawatan kerja tiga hari
Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim tiba di Lapangan Terbang Antarabangsa Haneda, Tokyo pada Rabu sekitar jam 8:54 malam waktu tempatan dengan pesawat khas dari Kuala Lumpur.
![Anwar ke Jepun bermula Rabu, pertama kali sertai Persidangan Nikkei sebagai Perdana Menteri Anwar ke Jepun bermula Rabu, pertama kali sertai Persidangan Nikkei sebagai Perdana Menteri](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-05/51716291893_AnwarIbrahim.jpg)
Anwar ke Jepun bermula Rabu, pertama kali sertai Persidangan Nikkei sebagai Perdana Menteri
Anwar juga dijadual menyampaikan ucaptama dalam persidangan tersebut dengan tema 'Asian Leadership in an Uncertain World'.
![PM Kishida lawat AS, kali pertama dalam sembilan tahun PM Kishida lawat AS, kali pertama dalam sembilan tahun](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2023-12/71702526392_FumioKishida.jpg)
PM Kishida lawat AS, kali pertama dalam sembilan tahun
Fumio Kishida dijangka menghadiri satu sidang kemuncak bersama Presiden AS, Joe Biden pada Rabu di Washington.
![PM Kishida lawat kawasan terjejas gempa bumi PM Kishida lawat kawasan terjejas gempa bumi](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-01/61705291036_TBFumioKishida.jpg)
PM Kishida lawat kawasan terjejas gempa bumi
Lawatan itu yang pertama beliau ke kawasan terjejas akibat gempa bumi sejak menerajui pentadbiran negara.
![Gempa bumi: Pihak berkuasa Jepun masih kesan 51 orang dilaporkan hilang Gempa bumi: Pihak berkuasa Jepun masih kesan 51 orang dilaporkan hilang](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-01/71704339301_TBAftermathjpg.jpg)
Gempa bumi: Pihak berkuasa Jepun masih kesan 51 orang dilaporkan hilang
Di bandar Wajima yang mencatatkan angka kematian tertinggi akibat bencana itu, enam orang dilaporkan hilang.
![Gempa bumi Jepun: Korban meningkat kepada 78 orang Gempa bumi Jepun: Korban meningkat kepada 78 orang](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-01/81704338377_TBJapanjpg.jpg)
Gempa bumi Jepun: Korban meningkat kepada 78 orang
Bandar Wajima paling teruk terjejas dengan 44 kematian direkodkan.
![PM Jepun Kishida gantikan dua eksekutif parti pemerintah LDP yang dibelenggu skandal PM Jepun Kishida gantikan dua eksekutif parti pemerintah LDP yang dibelenggu skandal](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2023-12/71702526392_FumioKishida.jpg)
PM Jepun Kishida gantikan dua eksekutif parti pemerintah LDP yang dibelenggu skandal
Perdana Menteri Jepun menggantikan dua eksekutif parti LDP dalam usaha untuk memulihkan kepercayaan orang ramai di tengah-tengah skandal dana politik.
![Lawatan ke Jepun berjaya, tarik potensi pelaburan RM6.56 bilion - PM Anwar Lawatan ke Jepun berjaya, tarik potensi pelaburan RM6.56 bilion - PM Anwar](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2023-12/41702899954_AnwarIbrahim.jpg)
Lawatan ke Jepun berjaya, tarik potensi pelaburan RM6.56 bilion - PM Anwar
Lawatan Perdana Menteri ke Jepun dianggap berjaya dan menggalakkan apabila nilai potensi pelaburan yang dibawa pulang berjumlah RM6.56 bilion.
![Anwar, Kishida gesa pembaharuan PBB, Majlis Keselamatan Anwar, Kishida gesa pembaharuan PBB, Majlis Keselamatan](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2023-12/51702722897_TBbilateralmeeting.jpg)
Anwar, Kishida gesa pembaharuan PBB, Majlis Keselamatan
Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim dan rakan sejawatnya dari Jepun Fumio Kishida menegaskan semula bahawa PBB perlu segera membuat pembaharuan.