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Thursday, 16 May 2013

New cabinet list – who’s in and who’s out

Surprises emerged when Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak announced the cabinet list today.


PUTRAJAYA: Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak today unveiled a slew of fresh faces among old names in his new cabinet lineup, and among them were Hindraf chairman P Waythamoorthy and Transparency International Malaysia president Paul Low.

Waythamoorthy and Low were both made senators, with the Hindraf leader named deputy minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, while Low is made a minister in the same department. Joining them as minister in the department is former Perlis Menteri Besar, Shahidan Kassim.

Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin now heads the newly merged Education and Higher Education Ministry (renamed Education & Higher Learning Ministry) with former MB of Terengganu Idris Jusoh joining him as the second minister.

Meanwhile, Hishammuddin Hussein is moved to the Defence Ministry while Ahmad Zahid Hamidi is now Home Minister, a swap between the two Umno vice presidents. Former Dewan Rakyat Deputy Speaker Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar is appointed as Zahid’s deputy.

Other new faces in the cabinet include Rembau MP and Umno Youth Chief Khairy Jamaluddin, who is now Youth and Sports minister, and Kota Belud MP Abdul Rahman Dahlan who is now appointed Urban Wellbeing, Housing and Local Government minister.

Ministers Anifah Aman, Ahmad Husni Mohamad Hanadzlah, and Mustapa Mohamed are retained in the Foreign Ministry, Finance Ministry and International Trade and Industry respectively.

However, Umno’s Hamim Samuri replaces Mukhriz Mahathir as Mustapa’s deputy. Mukhriz contested in a state seat in Kedah and is now the Kedah menteri besar.

In what is seen as a ‘demotion’, former de facto law minister Nazri Abdul Aziz is minted as the new Tourism and Culture minister. Former Agriculture and Agro-based Industry minister and Tanjung Karang MP Noh Omar is dropped altogether.

MIC president G Palanivel is made the Natural Resources and Environment Minister while his deputy Dr S Subramaniam is now the new Health Minister, replacing MCA deputy president Liow Tiong Lai.

P Kamalanathan, a MIC central working committee member is now Deputy Minister in the Education Ministry while MIC vice president M Saravanan is now Deputy Minister for Youth and Sports Ministry.

Noticeably absent from the list are MCA members and former cabinet ministers who lost in the May 5 general election, such as former Deputy Education Minister Saifuddin Abdullah and former Federal Territories and Well-Being Minister Raja Nong Chik Zainal Abidin.

10 ministers from Sabah, Sarawak

Speaking at a press conference later, Najib said MCA’s participation in the cabinet would be decided later due to the party’s resolution of not accepting cabinet posts should they fare badly in the general election.

“That is why I have retained the Transport Ministry [to be handled temporarily by Hishammuddin] so that MCA may take over if they decide to take the post after their annual general meeting,” said Najib.

With the absence of both Gerakan and MCA, there are only two Chinese representatives in the cabinet – Senator Paul Low (minister) and Mary Yap (deputy minister).

Najib also pointed out that he had downsized the cabinet by 11 deputy ministers, from 38 previously to 27.

“The number of ministers remains almost the same to reflect the Barisan Nasional family,” the prime minister explained.

Sabah and Sarawak which both gave a large chunk of MP seats to BN were rewarded with 15 parliamentarians being named in the cabinet, of which 10 were full ministers.

Prior to unveiling the list, Najib had said: “I describe this cabinet as a balance between the experienced, technocrats and representatives of the youths.

The Pekan MP also said that the new cabinet line up would contribute positively to the administration based on their vast experience, especially those who are made or retained as ministers or deputy ministers

“The technocrats will contribute based on their specific expertise and the youths, aside from their capabilities, will bring us the views of the younger generation for the government’s consideration.”

Najib also promised that the new cabinet would focus on issues of integrity and corruption, and would help continue the country’s national transformation agenda.

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