Anwar keeps promise on small cabinet size
MOHAMAD AMREEL IMAN ABD MALEK
SHAH ALAM - Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has kept his promise to reduce the size of the cabinet by appointing only 28 ministers in the unity government under his administration.
During Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad's administration, there were a total of 28 ministers and 27 deputy ministers.
Meanwhile, during Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin and Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob's era as prime ministers, there were 32 ministers and 38 deputies recording the highest number of cabinet line-up in the history of the country.
In a press conference, today, the appointment of the cabinet involved MPs from Pakatan Harapan (PH), Barisan Nasional (BN), Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) and Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS).
Umno president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) senior vice-president Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof were appointed as Deputy Prime Ministers.
Zahid also held the post of Rural and Regional Minister while Fadillah was also appointed as the Plantation Industries and Commodities Minister.
Several PKR leaders representing PH including its deputy president Rafizi Ramli was appointed as the Minister in the Prime Minister Department (Economy) while its vice-president Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad held the Natural Resources Minister portfolio.
Anwar did not create a Special Functions Minister portfolio unlike in the previous cabinet.
The swearing-in ceremony of the ministers before Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah will be held at Istana Negara at 3pm, tomorrow (Saturday).
