SEKIJANG Member of Parliament Datuk Seri Dr Zaliha Mustafa has been appointed as the new chairman of the Government Backbenchers Club, marking a key leadership change among government MPs aimed at strengthening coordination in Parliament.
The appointment was announced in the Dewan Rakyat on Thursday and subsequently communicated through the Unity Government BBC WhatsApp group, which includes government backbench MPs.
“With confirmation and approval of the Prime Minister, it is hereby announced that Zaliha, the Sekijang MP, has been elected and appointed as the new BBC chairman to replace Paya Besar MP Datuk Mohd Shahar Abdullah, who was appointed as a member of the administration,” the message said.
It added: “With that, the support from all the MPs to the new BBC leadership is highly expected and hopefully, this new appointment can smooth the course of Parliamentary business among all of us.”
Dr Zaliha’s appointment comes just weeks after she was dropped as Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department in charge of Federal Territories during the Cabinet reshuffle in December. The reshuffle also saw Datuk Dr Mohd Na’im Mokhtar replaced as Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department for Religious Affairs.
Her predecessor as BBC chairman, Datuk Mohd Shahar Abdullah, was subsequently appointed Deputy Economy Minister, prompting the leadership transition within the backbenchers’ caucus.
The Government Backbenchers Club plays a central role in coordinating the views and positions of government MPs who are not part of the Cabinet, serving as a bridge between the executive and Parliament to ensure smoother legislative proceedings. - January 22, 2026
