KUALA LUMPUR: "I have to remain extremely patient."

That was Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin's reply when asked if he has met Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob over Datuk Zuraida Kamaruddin's position in the cabinet.

The Pagoh member of parliament said he was still waiting for the date to meet Ismail Sabri over the matter.

"I do not know (when). You should ask the prime minister. Until today, I am still waiting for the time (and date of the meeting)," he told reporters after attending a ceremony presenting cattle for Aidiladha sacrificial rites and to celebrate would-be haj pilgrims at Taman Pagoh Jaya in Johor today. 

Zuraida, who is Ampang MP, had left Bersatu for Parti Bangsa Malaysia on May 26.

On June 16, Ismail Sabri said he would meet Zuraida to discuss her position as the plantation industries and commodities minister sometime this week.

On a separate matter, Muhyiddin said the country must be ready to navigate the impact of inflation which, according international economic experts, is expected to worsen.

"This is not a problem that is only affecting Malaysia but also the entire world.

"Although border restrictions have been lifted and enabled the country's economy to restart, there is a new problem cropping up due to disruption in the global supply chain.

"The problem is compounded by the increase of global oil prices," said Muhyiddin, who is also National Recovery Council chairman.

The government, he said, must not only formulate and implement short-term but also medium- and long-term solutions.