Muhyiddin's Cabinet: Three ministers from PAS

PUTRAJAYA, March 10 -- Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin today announced a new-look Cabinet which saw PAS rejoining the federal leadership after almost 43 years in the opposition.

At a special press conference in Putrajaya, Muhyiddin named three PAS leaders as ministers in his Cabinet.

They are Datuk Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man who was appointed as Minister of the Environment, Datuk Takiyuddin Hassan (Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Parliament and Law)) and Datuk Dr Mohd Khairuddin Aman Razali (Minister of Plantation Industries and Commodities).   

Tuan Ibrahim is PAS deputy president, Takiyuddin its secretary-general while Mohd Khairuddin a member of PAS' Central Working Committee.

The last time PAS was represented in the Federal Cabinet was from January 1973 till November 1977 when the PAS president then Mohd Asri Muda  was Land and Rural Development Minister.

PAS was expelled from the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition then on Nov 14, 1977.

The current federal government under the leadership of Muhyiddin is made up of Bersatu, BN , Gabungan Parti Sarawak and PAS.

On March 1, Muhyiddin was sworn in as Malaysia's 8th Prime Minister before Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah at Istana Negara.

In announcing his Cabinet line-up, Muhyiddin did not name a deputy prime minister but named four senior ministers, saying it is to ensure a functional cabinet that can also be more focused in service delivery.

The senior ministers are International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali; Defence Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob; Works Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof and Education Minister Dr Mohd Radzi Md Jidin.

Muhyiddin said these ministers will assist him in coordinating matters of the cabinet related to the economy, security, infrastructure development, and education and social sectors.

Muhyiddin also appointed five PAS MPs as deputy ministers.

They are Pengkalan Chepa MP  Ahmad Marzuk Shaary (Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Religous Affairs); Pendang MP Awang Hashim (Human Resource Ministry ); Rantau Panjang MP Datuk Siti Zaliah Mohd Yusoff (Women and Family); Tumpat MP Datuk Che Abdullah Mat Nawi (Agriculture and Food Industry)  and Kuala Terengganu MP Ahmad Amzad Hashim (Science, Technology and Innovation).

Commenting on the PAS appointments, political analyst Prof Datuk Dr Ramlah Mohd Adam told Bernama that PAS joining the Cabinet could be seen as the 'custodian' of Islam in the nation's administration.

Meanwhile, Universiti Utara Malaysia Political and International Affairs senior lecturer Md Shukri Shuib said PAS joining the federal cabinet bode well for PAS-controlled states Kelantan and Terengganu.

-- BERNAMA