KUALA LUMPUR – The cabinet line-up announced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob last Friday is now official, after they took their oaths before Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah at Istana Negara this afternoon.
The ceremony began at 2.30pm and was attended by 69 MPs and senators, who took their oaths as ministers and deputy ministers.
First to be sworn in were Senior International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali, Senior Defence Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein, Finance Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz, Senior Works Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof, Senior Education Minister Datuk Radzi Jidin, Transport Minister Datuk Seri Wee Ka Siong, and Human Resources Minister Datuk Seri M. Saravanan.
The second batch of seven ministers to take their oaths were Minister in Prime Minister’s Department (Sabah and Sarawak Affairs) Datuk Seri Maximus Johnity Ongkili, Agriculture and Food Industry Minister Datuk Seri Ronald Kiandee, Environment Minister Datuk Seri Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man, Home Minister Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin, Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister Datuk Alexander Nanta Linggi, Energy and Natural Resources Minister Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan, and Higher Education Minister Datuk Noraini Ahmad.
The fifth and final batch of ministers to be sworn in were Rural Development Minister Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid, Federal Territories Minister Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim, Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Faizal Azumu, and Minister in Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs) Idris Ahmad.
Meanwhile, the first batch of deputies to take their oaths were Deputy Rural Development Minister I Datuk Seri Abdul Rahman Mohamad, Deputy Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Abdul Mutalib, Deputy Home Minister I Datuk Seri Ismail Mohamed Said, Deputy Finance Minister I Mohd Shahar Abdullah, Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Special Functions) Datuk Mastura Mohd, Deputy Agriculture and Food Industry Minister I Datuk Seri Ahmad Hamzah Yazid, and Deputy Communications and Multimedia Minister Datuk Zahidi Zainul Abidin.
The second last batch of deputies who took oaths comprised Deputy Human Resources Minister Datuk Awang Hashim; Deputy Science, Technology, and Innovation Minister Datuk Amzad Mohamed @ Hashim; Deputy Plantation Industries and Commodities Minister I Datuk Seri Wee Jeck Seng, Deputy Higher Education Minister Datuk Ahmad Masrizal Muhammad, Deputy International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Lim Ban Hong, and Deputy Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Seri Ti Lian Ker.
Finally, the last group to be sworn in comprised Deputy Education Minister I Datuk Mah Hang Soon, Deputy Federal Territories Minister Datuk Seri Jalaluddin Alias, Deputy Finance Minister II Yamani Hafez Musa, and Deputy Agriculture and Food Industry Minister II Nik Muhammad Zawawi Salleh.
As a custom, the ministerial and deputy posts are only made official after the ministers take the Oath of Office and Allegiance, and the Oath of Secrecy before the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.
The swearing-in ceremony was held in the presence of Raja Permaisuri Agong Tunku Hajah Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah at the Dewan Singgahsana Kecil (Minor Throne Hall).
Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob was not present as he is undergoing self-quarantine after having come into close contact with a Covid-19 patient.
Chief Justice Tun Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat and the chief secretary to the government witnessed the ceremony.
After being sworn in, all ministers and deputies signed their instruments of appointment, before Federal Territory Mufti Datuk Luqman Abdullah led the doa recital.
The ceremony lasted for nearly two hours until 4.20pm before His and Her Majesties left the hall, shortly after the national anthem was played in the hall. – The Vibes, August 30, 2021
