KUALA LUMPUR – Prime minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has taken the unprecedented step of appointing two deputy prime ministers, one of whom is from Sarawak, in the new cabinet of his unity government.
Anwar himself is the finance minister in the 28-member cabinet, which was unveiled at Perdana Putra, Putrajaya last night.
Barisan Nasional (BN) chairman Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi is the deputy prime minister and rural and regional development minister.
The other deputy prime minister is Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) senior vice-president Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof, who is representing Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS). He is also the plantation industries and commodities minister.
Fourteen people are making their debut as ministers, including PKR deputy president Rafizi Ramli as economic affairs minister, PKR vice-president Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad as natural resources, environment and climate change minister and PKR vice-president Chang Lih Kang as science and technology minister.
The other new faces include PKR information chief Fahmi Fadzil, who is the digital communications minister, Wanita PKR chief Fadhlina Sidek as the education minister and Sekijang MP Dr Zaliha Mustafa as the health minister.
Also appointed to the cabinet for the first time are BN deputy chairman and Umno deputy president Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan as defence minister and BN secretary-general and former Perak Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Zambry Abd Kadir, who is the new foreign minister.
The others are Perak DAP chairman Nga Kor Ming as local government development minister, Batu Gajah MP V. Sivakumar as human resources minister, People’s Progressive Party (PDP) president Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing as tourism minister, Penampang MP Datuk Ewon Benedick as entrepreneur development and cooperatives minister, Papar MP Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali as minister in the Prime minister’s Department (Sabah and Sarawak Affairs) and syarie chief judge Mohd Na'im Mokhtar as the religious affairs minister.
Meanwhile, nine former ministers have returned to the cabinet.
They are DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke, who has been appointed as transport minister, Amanah president Mohamad Sabu (agriculture and food security minister), GPS secretary-general Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi (works minister) and Umno vice-president Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin (higher education minister).
Wanita PBB vice-chief Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri has been appointed as women, family and community development minister, Amanah deputy president Datuk Seri Salahuddin Ayub (domestic trade and cost of living minister), Umno Supreme Council member Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said (law and institutional reform minister).
Pakatan Harapan (PH) secretary-general Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail and Selangor BN treasurer Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz, who both lost in the 15th general election (GE15), were also appointed to the cabinet, as home minister, and international trade and industry minister respectively.
Two former deputy ministers have been promoted to ministers, with Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) vice-president Datuk Aaron Anak Dagang as national unity minister, and DAP national publicity assistant secretary Hannah Yeoh as youth and sports minister.
In making the much awaited announcement, Anwar, who is PH chairman, said the unity government cabinet was dominated by PH, which has the most number of MPs, followed by BN and GPS.
“These pillars have reached agreement not only to form the cabinet but also set several key governance policies which are good and have given priority to driving economic growth and easing the people’s burden in terms of cost of living,” he added.
Anwar said this agreement had also enabled the government to expand the coalition to include Sabah-based parties like Gabungan Rakyat Sabah and Warisan, boosting the strength of the Unity Government to a two-thirds majority in Parliament.
“This mandate has given us the confidence to form a more solid cabinet which will work as a team and focus on driving vibrant economic growth, apart from giving greater attention to the people’s problems,” he said.
The new ministers are scheduled to be sworn in at Istana Negara today. – Bernama, December 3, 2022
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