[UPDATED] Ismail Sabri presents cabinet list to Agong in Kuantan

KUALA LUMPUR – Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob has met the Yang di-Pertuan Agong at Istana Abdulaziz, Kuantan, this morning to present his cabinet line-up.

The list is a long-awaited one as speculation of behind-the-scenes dealings have been rife since the prime minister was sworn in last Saturday.

Bernama reported that Ismail Sabri landed at the Royal Malaysian Air Force airbase in Kuantan at 10.15am and entered the palace before 11am.

Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri @IsmailSabri60 tiba di Pahang bagi menghadap Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah dipercayai bagi mempersembahkan senarai Kabinet untuk perkenan Seri Baginda pic.twitter.com/bKFXVlQbf7

— BERNAMA Radio?? (@bernamaradio) August 26, 2021

Pahang Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail was also seen entering Istana Abdulaziz at 11.25am.

Ismail Sabri later left the palace at about 1.20pm.

The vehicle carrying him was seen entering the Perdana Putra complex in Putrajaya at 3.37pm.

The Prime Minister’s Office also revealed that there would be no announcement of the cabinet line-up by Ismail Sabri today. 

It is learnt that he is scheduled to chair his first cabinet meeting tomorrow.

Previously, The Vibes reported that prior to today’s royal audience, the wrangling and last-minute lobbying for positions under the Bera MP’s stewardship is still ongoing and is expected to last until the 11th hour.

Sources had said Ismail Sabri should be chairing his first cabinet meeting as prime minister tomorrow.

According to another source, Bersatu vice-president Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali has been heavily lobbying for the post of deputy prime minister.

It is learnt that the Gombak MP has avoided contact with most Bersatu MPs, with the exception of his faction of lawmakers who defected from PKR during the infamous Sheraton Move last year.

“He (Azmin) is pushing very hard and his associates have even threatened to pull out if their demands are not fulfilled.

“Not all in Bersatu and Umno are in unison with Azmin,” the source linked to the Perikatan Nasional coalition said.

Bersatu secretary-general and former home minister Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin is among those within the Umno splinter party vying for the number two position.

Ismail Sabri, the source added, is under tremendous pressure from Umno’s leadership to impose the majority of candidates from the party and sideline its Perikatan Nasional partner, especially Bersatu.

A source within the party said Ismail Sabri’s fellow Umno vice-president Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid is set for a return to cabinet given his close association with the newly minted prime minister over the years.

Yesterday, Pakatan Harapan indicated that it is willing to vote in favour of Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob should a motion of confidence for the newly appointed prime minister be tabled in Dewan Rakyat.

However, this is only if the current government can continue to share a cordial working relationship with the opposition in ensuring people-centric initiatives are delivered, said opposition leader and PKR president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim after meeting the prime minister.

“We said if the (political) atmosphere remains like this, and pro-rakyat programmes can be delivered, we will not complicate matters,” he told reporters, when asked on PH’s stand on a confidence vote.

This followed a 90-minute meeting between Ismail Sabri and Anwar, as well as Amanah president Mohamad Sabu, and DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng.

Anwar said the matter of him being given a ministerial post did not arise during the meeting, adding that the coalition leaders are not interested in any cabinet position.

“I am not interested. From the beginning, we (PH) have said we do not come to seek any position. Our issue is primarily focused on Covid-19 and the economy of the people.”

Ismail Sabri, who was sworn in as the ninth prime minister on Saturday, has yet to name his cabinet or deputy, with earlier speculations on the possibility of a unity government.

He has denied this, but did offer opposition leaders a place in the National Recovery Council and Special Committee to Manage Covid-19 during his maiden speech on Sunday. – The Vibes, August 26, 2021