PUTRAJAYA, Aug 27 — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob today announced the list of his ‘results-oriented’ Cabinet line-up involving 31 ministers, including four senior ministers, who as a management team will work together with the people.
Opting not to hold a portfolio himself and without naming a deputy prime minister, Ismail Sabri retained many of the full ministers who served under his predecessor Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin and also 38 deputy ministers.
Announcing his Cabinet at Perdana Putra here, Ismail Sabri said the line-up is a reformulation based on current situations, for the sake of maintaining stability and putting the interests and safety of the Malaysia Family first.
“The Cabinet has to work fast and in unison to free Malaysia from the threats of the Covid-19 pandemic, economic uncertainty and political turmoil,” he said during the announcement that was aired live on local television channels.
Ismail Sabri was sworn in as Malaysia’s 9th Prime Minister before Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah at Istana Negara last Saturday.
Three senior ministers under Muhyiddin who retained their respective portfolios are Datuk Seri Azmin Ali (International Trade and Industry), Datuk Seri Fadilah Yusof (Works) and Datuk Seri Radzi Jidin (Education) while Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein, who was previously Senior Foreign Minister has been appointed Defence Minister.
In the Cabinet reformulation, 13 portfolios were entrusted to experienced ministers who had helmed the ministries under the previous government.
They are Finance Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz; Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Economy) Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed; Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Sabah and Sarawak Affairs Datuk Seri Panglima Dr Maximus Johnity Ongkili; Transport Minister Datuk Seri Ir Dr Wee Ka Siong; and Environment and Water Minister Datuk Seri Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man.
Also Human Resources Minister Datuk Seri M.Saravanan; Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Rina Harun; Higher Education Minister Datuk Dr Noraini Ahmad; Home Minister Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainuddin; Agriculture and Food Industries Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ronald Kiandee; and Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister Datuk Alexander Nanta Linggi.
Two new faces in the Cabinet are former Perak Menteri Besar Perak cum Bersatu vice-president Datuk Seri Ahmad Faizal Azumu who was appointed as Youth and Sports Minister and PAS vice-president Idris Ahmad as Minister in the Prime Minister in charge of Religious Affairs.
Meanwhile, Ismail Sabri also announced a portfolio swap between Khairy Jamaluddin and Datuk Seri Dr Adham Baba with the former to be in charge of health and the latter, of science, technology and innovation.
— Bernama
