PM Najib Chairs First Cabinet Meeting Wednesday After Reshuffle

PUTRAJAYA (Malaysia), July 29 (Bernama) -- Prime Minister Najib Razak on Wednesday chaired the first Malaysian cabinet meeting after the reshuffle with the appointment of several new ministers on Tuesday. The meeting, that started at about 2.30pm at Perdana Putra (which houses the office complex of the Malaysian prime minister) here, saw cheerful ministers shaking hands and congratulating each other before proceeding into the meeting room. The six new cabinet members, namely Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Minister Hamzah Zainudin, Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar (Natural Resources and Environment Minister), Mahdzir Khalid (Education Minister), attended the meeting. Also attending the meeting were Senator Dr Mohd Salleh Said Keruak (Communication and Multimedia Minister), Azalina Othman Said (Minister in Prime Minister's Department) and Ong Ka Chuan (Second International Trade and Industry Minister). All of them were photographed individually by the Prime Minister's Office as well as Radio Televisyen Malaysia (RTM, the Malaysian public broadcaster). Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Wilfred Madius Tangau did not attend the meeting. He is reportedly in Italy. It was the first cabinet meeting for the four except for two others, namely Azalina, who had held the post of Youth and Sports Minister and Tourism Minister while Ong had been the Housing and Local Government Minister until 2009. On Tuesday, Najib announced the new cabinet line-up at a press conference, dropping Muhyiddin Yassin as Deputy Prime Minister. He was replaced by Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, who also retains his Home Ministry portfolio. On the same note, the new cabinet ministerial lineup on Wednesday pledged to work as a team to serve the people despite facing uncertain challenges. Azalina Othman said she would move as team in the new lineup to face challenges from social media that had a big influence on the people at present. "The new lineup will give strength to UMNO and Barisan Nasional (National Front) because Malaysians are not like before due to the advent of social mediawhich should be used as a positive platform for our leadership," she said. UMNO is Malaysia's largest political party. She told reporters this after taking her oath of office and secrecy before the Malaysia's King, Tuanku Abdul Halim Mu'adzam Shah, here. Meanwhile, Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar said the new leadership lineup was seen as dynamic and, at the same time, could form a team with one voice in helping the government dealt with various conflicts. "I will also emphasise on environmental related issues, including land clearing in Cameron Highlands and erratic climatic changes to ensure that large scale floods do not recur," he said. Hamzah Zainudin said he was ready to execute his responsibility to increase domestic trade that could benefit consumers and the country. "I am prepared to listen to all parties not only from the top leadership, but more importantly the consumers in bringing the country to the forefront," he said. As for the new deputy ministers, Deputy Foreign Minister Reezal Merican Naina Merican was of the view that he would face his duty and future challenges together with the new lineup as a solid team. Deputy Education Minister Senator Chong Sin Woon pledged to uplift the standard of national education in efforts to become a developed country in five years' time. "This is a heavy responsibility in view of the various challenges, but we will continue to enhance our children's education to be on par with the international level," he said. Deputy Tourism and Culture Minister Mas Ermieyati Samsudin said her appointment was proof that the government was caring and gave opportunities to the leadership of young women. She was optimistic that the new and old faces could collaborate in one team to restore the country's political situation that was becoming increasingly challenging. --BERNAMA