KUALA LUMPUR – Overlooked for a position in the new cabinet, Pengerang MP Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said said she will now focus her efforts on her constituents and lifting the rakyat’s voice in Parliament.
Azalina, who on Monday resigned as Dewan Rakyat deputy speaker, is the most glaring omission among government lawmakers from Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob’s cabinet line-up.
In a statement, the Umno parliamentarian congratulated appointees and expressed hope that they will prioritise the people amid the Covid-19 pandemic.
Welcoming the commitment from both Ismail Sabri and the opposition to empower Parliament and ensure judicial independence and institutional reforms, as announced on Wednesday, Azalina said she is prepared to contribute to this in whatever capacity.
“I hope the principles of constitutional monarchy and parliamentary democracy will continue to be a torch and guide to the government and all MPs, regardless of whether they are from the government, opposition or independent bloc.
“As MP for Pengerang, I will continue to give my best service to the people of Pengerang and carry the people’s voice in the Dewan Rakyat.
“For Pengerang constituents, our battle against Covid-19 has not ended. Let us all come together to restore the well-being of the people and the economy.”
Ismail Sabri earlier today announced his cabinet, which comprises largely familiar faces – a huge number of them have retained their positions in the Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin-led Perikatan Nasional administration.
Perhaps the biggest surprises are the lack of a deputy prime minister and the swap in portfolios between Khairy Jamaluddin and Datuk Seri Dr Adham Baba; the former is made health minister, and the latter appointed science, technology and innovation minister.
The members of the new cabinet and their deputies will take their oaths of office at 2.30pm on Monday at Istana Negara.
Ismail Sabri was appointed the country’s ninth prime minister on Friday and sworn in the following day, taking over a government struggling to cope with the coronavirus crisis.
He succeeds Muhyiddin, who holds the record of being the shortest-serving Malaysian prime minister at 17 months. – The Vibes, August 27, 2021
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