Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim is in the midst of reviewing candidates for the posts of Ministers and Deputy Ministers in the MADANI Government, the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) said in a statement today.
According to the PMO, the selection process is being carried out with careful scrutiny to ensure decisions made are aligned with national reform efforts and prioritise the interests of the people.
“The Prime Minister will finalise the list of Ministers and Deputy Ministers after a thorough and prudent evaluation process, guided by the nation’s reform agenda and the needs of the rakyat,” the statement said.
Anwar had previously indicated that he would not undertake a major Cabinet reshuffle. Instead, the adjustments will focus on filling existing vacancies, considering that his administration has about a year and a half left before the current term ends.
Several ministerial posts are currently vacant following the resignations of Datuk Seri Rafizi Ramli as Economy Minister; Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad as Minister of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability; and Datuk Ewon Benedick as Entrepreneur and Cooperatives Development Minister.
The Investment, Trade and Industry (MITI) portfolio also remains without a minister following the end of Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz’s term as Senator.
In a related development, the Prime Minister welcomed the reappointment of Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail, Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir and Datuk Dr Mohd Na’im Mokhtar as Senators for their second term, effective today.
He said the reappointments were crucial to ensuring continuity in policy implementation, governance and the national reform agenda under the Malaysia MADANI framework.
Earlier, Saifuddin who is also Home Minister; Mohd Na’im, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs); and Zambry, Higher Education Minister took their oaths before Senate President Datuk Awang Bemee Awang Ali Basah.
The trio were first appointed to the Senate on Dec 3, 2022, and will now serve until Dec 2, 2028.
-THE MALAYSIA VOICE
