Malaysia’s PM Ismail Sabri Announces Results-Oriented Cabinet That Will Work With The Rakyat

PUTRAJAYA, Aug 27 (Bernama) -- Prime Minister 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 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 Ythe King, 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 Azmin Ali (International Trade and Industry), Fadilah Yusof (Works) and Datuk Seri Radzi Jidin (Education) while 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 Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz; Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Economy) Mustapa Mohamed; Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Sabah and Sarawak Affairs Panglima Dr Maximus Johnity Ongkili; Transport Minister Ir Dr Wee Ka Siong; and Environment and Water Minister Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man. Also Human Resources Minister M.Saravanan; Women, Family and Community Development Minister Rina Harun; Higher Education Minister Dr Noraini Ahmad; Home Minister Hamzah Zainuddin; Agriculture and Food Industries Minister Dr Ronald Kiandee; and Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister Alexander Nanta Linggi. Two new faces in the Cabinet are former Perak Menteri Besar Perak cum Bersatu vice-president 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 Dr Adham Baba with the former to be in charge of health and the latter, of science, technology and innovation . Former Federal Territories Minister Annuar Musa was appointed Minister of Communications and Multimedia to replace Datuk Saifuddin Abdullah who will return to helm the Foreign Ministry. Former Entrepreneur Development and Cooperative Minister Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar was entrusted as Minister of Parliament and Law in the Prime Minister’s Department to replace Takiyuddin Hassan who was appointed as Minister of Energy and Natural Resources. Two veteran ministers named in Ismail Sabri’s Cabinet were Noh Omar as Minister of Entrepreneur Development and Cooperative and Mahdzir Khalid as Rural Development Minister. Ismail Sabri said the new Cabinet comprised a combination of experienced people believed capable of reviving the economy by supporting the entrepreneurs, facilitating businesses, revitalising economic activities and strengthening investors’ confidence. “I will ensure that the Cabinet will emphasise on high-performance work culture,” he said while demanding all ministries to prove their early achievements in the first 100 days. -- BERNAMA