KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad on Friday announced the names of 15 federal ministers who will form Pakatan Harapan Cabinet, all of whom have received the consent of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.
The 15 will be taking their oath of office in front of Sultan Muhammad V at the Istana Negara on Monday.
In a statement, Dr Mahathir said he was granted an audience with the King at 5pm at the palace on Friday, where he presented the names of the Cabinet ministers.
Dr Mahathir would not be taking on the role of Education Minister, as he had previously announced, as it went against PH’s election manifesto.
Instead, the Education Minister portfolio would be helmed by Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia’s (PPBM) Dr Maszlee Malik, who is also the Simpang Renggam member of parliament.
There were also no ministers from Sabah and Sarawak. Parti Warisan Sabah (Warisan) chairman Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal had reportedly submitted the list of candidates from the party up for Cabinet consideration.
The Cabinet lineup only involved distribution of portfolios among PPBM, PKR, DAP and Parti Amanah Negara (Amanah).
However, the prime minister had previously stated that the Cabinet, upon completion, would have at least 25 members.
Apart from Dr Mahathir, who is also Langkawi MP, PPBM has three other representatives in the Cabinet. They are Mazlee (formerly International Islamic University lecturer); Pagoh MP Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, who is Home Minister, and PPBM Women’s chief Rina Harun, who is Rural Development Minister.
PKR’s presence in the Cabinet is led by its president Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, who had previously already been announced at the Deputy Prime Minister. She will also take on the role of Women and Family Development Minister.
The biggest surprise came in the form of Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali, who was named Economic Affairs Minister. Azmin was recently sworn-in as Selangor Menteri Besar and it remains to be seen whether he will be holding a Cabinet position as well as remaining the MB.
PKR’s other inclusion is its Women’s chief Zuraida Kamaruddin, who will assume the role of Housing and Local Government Minister.
DAP will have four representatives in the Cabinet, led by its secretary-general Lim Guan Eng, who is Finance Minister. The others are Seremban MP Anthony Loke Siew Fook, who is Transport Minister; Puchong MP Gobind Singh Deo, who is Communications and Multimedia Minister; and Ipoh Barat MP M. Kulasegaran, who is Human Resources Minister.
Amanah, meanwhile, has three Cabinet ministers, led by party president Mohamad Sabu, who is Defence Minister. Also included are Pulai MP Salahuddin Ayub, who is Agriculture and Agro-based Industries Minister, as well as Kuala Selangor MP Dr. Dzulkefly Ahmad, who is Health Minister.
They will be taking their oath of office in the presence of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong at the Istana Negara at 11.30am on Monday.
