By Danial Dzulkifly
PUTRAJAYA, Dec 12 — The first Cabinet reshuffle of the Madani Unity Government announced by Prime Minister Datuk Anwar Ibrahim today sees Kuala Selangor MP Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad and Puchong MP Gobind Singh Deo serving as full ministers.
Dr Dzulkefly returns to helm the Health portfolio, a position he previously held during the previous Pakatan Harapan government from 2018 to 2020.
Gobind Singh Deo, formerly the Communications and Multimedia Minister under the same Harapan administration, is set to head the newly-introduced Digital Ministry, split from the Communications and Digital portfolio.
Fahmi Fadzil, who previously oversaw the combined portfolios, now leads the Communications Ministry, with Teo Nie Ching serving as his deputy minister.
Another notable parliamentarian to return to the Cabinet is Titiwangsa MP Datuk Johari Ghani as the Plantations and Commodities Minister.
Anwar said the Cabinet reshuffle was necessary to keep up with the complicated and complex economic and social challenges faced by the current administration, which include the advent of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and digital transformation.
“It (the Cabinet reshuffle) is not just based on past performances, but the changes made were in terms of economic growth, living costs, and also international acceptance, which has changed how the Foreign Ministry works today.
“There are pertinent matters in higher education, particularly as we delve into areas like AI and digital transformation. These developments have prompted me to make certain modifications in line with the current conditions,” he said at a press conference to announce the new Cabinet line-up at Perdana Putra in Putrajaya today.
Anwar, who remains the Finance Minister, has appointed former Employee Provident Fund chief executive officer Datuk Seri Amir Hamzah Azizan to join as Finance Minister II via a senatorial appointment, with Lim Hui Ying serving as Deputy Finance Minister.
He said Amir’s appointment is meant to bolster the Finance portfolio, especially with the latter’s professional and efficient governance of Malaysia’s largest pension fund.
“In my personal view, I think that I have built a consensus in which the Finance Ministry, other than being headed by me, must have a strong professional team to ensure we are on the right track, focusing on the economy, and not be sidelined or deflected by political pressures.
“He (Amir) has shown enough competency in managing EPF’s affairs impressively and satisfactorily,” Anwar said.
Significant changes include the appointment of Bukit Mertajam MP Steven Sim Chee Keong as the new Human Resources Minister, replacing V. Sivakumar, with Datuk Seri Abdul Rahman Mohamad joining as his deputy.
Meanwhile, Datuk Seri Mohamed Hasan has been selected to move from Defence to Foreign Affairs, with Datuk Seri Khaled Nordin moving from Higher Education to take Mohamed’s place.
Senator Datuk Seri Zambry Abdul Kadir, formerly the foreign affairs minister, will now take over Khaled’s Higher Education portfolio with Datuk Mustapha @Mohd Yunus Sakmud as his deputy.
Former health minister Dr Zaliha Mustafa has been appointed as a Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department for Federal Territories, a portfolio previously overseen by Anwar.
The Natural Resources, Environment, and Climate Change Ministry has been split in two for efficient management, in which Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof will head the Energy Transition and Public Utilities Ministry, while Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad to lead the Natural Resources and Sustainability portfolio.
Other notable appointments include M. Kulasegaran as Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department for Law and Institutional Reform; Datuk Seri Noraini Ahmad as Deputy Minister for Women, Family, and Community Development; Sungai Buloh MP Datuk R. Ramanan as Deputy Minister of the Entrepreneurship and Cooperative Development Ministry; and Taiping MP Wong Kah Woh as the new Deputy Minister for Education.
Former Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia Syariah and Law Faculty dean Zulkifli Hasan has been appointed as the new Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs) through a senatorial appointment.
The reshuffle expanded the Cabinet to 60 members from 55, comprising 31 full ministers and 29 deputies, less than the 70-member Cabinet of the previous Perikatan Nasional administration.
