6 Highlights From Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin's First Cabinet Line-Up
For one, there will be no Deputy Prime Minister.
By May Vin Ang — 09 Mar 2020, 07:36 PM
Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin unveiled his Cabinet at 5pm today, 9 March
This was after Muhyiddin presented the list to Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri'ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah this morning.
The Bersatu president described the line-up as a "functional Cabinet", which would deliver its services in a focused and effective manner, reported Malaysiakini.
"In summary, I want to form a Cabinet which can provide the best service to the rakyat - a Cabinet that delivers," he said.
1. There will be no Deputy Prime Minister, instead, there will be four senior ministers to take up four portfolios
"I have appointed four senior ministers who will help me coordinate the affairs of the Cabinet related to economy, security, infrastructure development, education, and social issues," said Muhyiddin when announcing his choices.
"The appointment of these senior ministers will enable the issues which arise between the ministries and the above-mentioned fields to be streamlined in a more effective manner."
The four senior ministers are:- Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali (Ministry of International Trade and Industry),
- Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob (Ministry of Defence),
- Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof (Ministry of Works), and
- Dr Mohd Radzi Md Jidin (Ministry of Education).
2. Chief executive officer (CEO) of CIMB Zafrul Aziz appointed as Finance Minister
According to Bloomberg, 46-year-old Tengku Zafrul Abdul Aziz became the CIMB Group Holdings' CEO in 2015 after spending much of his career climbing the ranks at one of the country's main banks.
Zafrul's first task would be implementing the RM20 billion ringgit stimulus package to counter the economic impact from the coronavirus outbreak.
3. There are four new ministries in the Cabinet
These new ministries and their heads are:
- Datuk Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man (Ministry of Environment),
- Datuk Halimah Binti Mohamed Sadique (Ministry of Unity),
- Datuk Dr Noraini Ahmad (Minister of Higher Education), and
- Datuk Seri Maximus Johnity Ongkili (Minister in the Prime Minister's Department - Sabah and Sarawak affairs).
4. Federal Territories mufti Datuk Seri Zulkifli Mohamad will be the minister in charge of religious affairs
According to Harian Metro, Zulkifli is the first mufti to be appointed as a minister. He was elected as the 7th and current Federal Territories mufti in 2014.
His appointment has debunked rumours that the post will be held by a Malaysian Islamic Party (PAS) leader, reported Malay Mail.
5. Zuraida Kamaruddin has been appointed Housing and Local Government Minister again
Zuraida was the head of the same ministry under Pakatan Harapan before she was sacked from Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) on 24 February.
She, Azmin Ali, and nine other members collectively left PKR to form their own independent bloc in Parliament.
6. Muhyiddin's Cabinet has a total of 69 ministers and deputy ministers
His Cabinet comprises of 31 senior ministers and ministers, and 38 deputy ministers, according to Astro Awani.
For comparison, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad's had a total of 51 Ministers and Deputy Ministers.
In addition to the new ministries mentioned above, it was noted that the former Ministry of Energy, Science, Technology, Environment, and Climate Change has been broken into three separate ministries:
- Ministry of Environment,
- Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources, and
- Ministry of Science, Technology, and Innovation.
