KUALA LUMPUR: Eleven people with experience leading ministries have been named deputy ministers in the new unity government.
These comprise a former minister and 10 former deputy ministers.
The sole former minister is Lenggong member of parliament Datuk Seri Dr Shamsul Anuar Nasarah, who previously held the post of energy and natural resources minister during the Perikatan Nasional (PN) administration. He is now deputy home minister.
Shamsul is among 27 deputy ministers who were announced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim today.
Umno secretary-general Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan is back as deputy finance minister, having held the position from 2013 to 2015 during the Barisan Nasional administration.
There are, in fact, two deputy finance ministers, with the other being Bukit Mertajam MP Steven Sim, who was deputy youth and sports minister from 2018-2020.
Former Kuantan MP Fuziah Salleh has been appointed deputy domestic trade and cost of living minister, having previously been deputy minister in the prime minister's department (religious affairs).
Meanwhile, Kulai MP Teo Nie Ching, a former deputy education minister, is now deputy communications and digital minister.
Others include Deputy International Trade and Industry Minister Liew Chin Tong (formerly deputy defence minister) Deputy Foreign Minister Datuk Mohamad Alamin (formerly defence), Deputy Economy Minister Datuk Hanifah Hajar Taib (formerly Sabah and Sarawak affairs) and Deputy Works Minister Datuk Seri Abdul Rahman Mohamad and Deputy Transport Minister Datuk Hasbi Habibollah, both of whom were formerly deputy rural development ministers.
The list is rounded out by Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah (PBRS) deputy president Datuk Arthur Joseph Kurup, a former deputy works minister who is now in the Science, Technology and Innovation Ministry.
