[UPDATED] Muhyiddin leads Perikatan ‘shadow cabinet’ with Hadi as deputy 

KUALA LUMPUR – Former prime minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin has been unveiled as the chief of Perikatan Nasional (PN) MPs in what appears to be the coalition’s shadow cabinet announced today. 

This is despite PN secretary-general Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin remaining as the opposition leader in the Dewan Rakyat. 

The line-up, officially known as the PN MPs portfolio committee, sees PAS president Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang appointed as Muhyiddin’s deputy. 

Bersatu vice-president Datuk Radzi Jidin has also been given a key role to play after being appointed as shadow minister for the finance and economy portfolios. 

The finance and economy ministries are currently helmed by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and PKR deputy president Rafizi Ramli respectively.

Other prominent names in the committee include Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan, who will oversee the home affairs portfolio, Datuk Seri Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man (natural resources, environment, and climate change), Datuk Seri Saifuddin Abdullah (education and higher education), Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim (rural and regional development), Datuk Wan Saiful Wan Jan (communications and digital), and Wan Ahmad Fayhsal Wan Ahmad Kamal (foreign affairs). 

Among the other key portfolios, namely defence, health, and human resources, are held respectively by Datuk Seri Ikmal Hisham Abdul Aziz, Datuk Dr Ahmad Yunus Hairi, and Datuk Awang Hashim. 

In a press conference, Muhyiddin, who is PN chairman, said the formation of the portfolio committee was agreed upon in a meeting involving the coalition’s supreme council members. 

The Bersatu president said the appointments were made based on the MPs’ respective strengths, backgrounds, and past experience in government. 

“These are not merely ordinary MPs, but (they) have expertise and experience in their respective portfolios. (The appointments) are to ensure that we can be seen as an effective opposition,” he told a press conference after a PN MPs’ retreat today. 

Muhyiddin said the appointed MPs will be responsible for issuing statements and responding to issues related to their portfolios. 

“We have agreed that we will issue policy statements and state our stand on all matters, including the economy, education, environment, foreign affairs, and defence. 

“This will be publicised to the rakyat so they know how we present ourselves. We are ready to shoulder a bigger responsibility if the rakyat give us the mandate to administer the country.” – The Vibes, February 2, 2023

The full list of the MPs portfolio committee is as follows: 

Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin (chief of MPs) 
Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang (deputy chief of MPs) 
Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin (opposition leader) 
Datuk Radzi Jidin (finance and economy)
Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan (home affairs)
Datuk Idris Ahmad (religious affairs)
Datuk Seri Ronald Kiandee (agriculture and food security) 
Datuk Seri Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man (natural resources, environment, and climate change) 
Datuk Seri Saifuddin Abdullah (education and higher education) 
Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim (rural and regional development)
Ahmad Fadhli Shaari (youth and sports)
Wan Ahmad Fayhsal Wan Ahmad Kamal (foreign affairs)
Datuk Mas Ermieyati Samsudin (law and institutional reform)
Datuk Rosol Wahid (domestic trade and cost of living)
Datuk Ali Biju (Sabah and Sarawak affairs and special functions) 
Datuk Muslimin Yahaya (entrepreneur and cooperatives development) 
Datuk Siti Zailah Mohd Yusoff (women, family, and community development) 
Datuk Seri Ismail Abd Muttalib (local government development) 
Datuk Mohd Suhaimi Abdullah (tourism, arts, and culture) 
Datuk Awang Hashim (human resources) 
Datuk Ahmad Amzad Hashim (science, technology, and innovation)
Datuk Wan Saiful Wan Jan (communications and digital)
Datuk Che Mohamad Zulkifly Jusoh (works)
Dr Halimah Ali (national unity)
Datuk Ku Abd Rahman Ku Ismail (international trade and industry)
Datuk Dr Ahmad Yunus Hairi (health)
Datuk Azman Nasrudin (plantation and commodities)
Khairil Nizam Khirudin (transport)