Cabinet Reshuffle: Six Deputies, One New Face Appointed As Full Ministers

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 16 (Bernama) -- Six deputy ministers and one new face were appointed as full ministers in the MADANI Government administration today.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, speaking at a special media conference on the Cabinet reshuffle involving 11 portfolios, announced the appointment of Sungai Petani Member of Parliament Dr Mohammed Taufiq Johari as the new Youth and Sports Minister.

Mohammed Taufiq replaces Hannah Yeoh, who has now been appointed as Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Federal Territories).

The six deputy ministers who have been 'elevated’ are Akmal Nasrullah Mohd Nasir, from Deputy Minister of Energy Transition and Water Transformation to Minister of Economy, filling the vacancy left by Datuk Seri Rafizi Ramli; Datuk Mustafa Sakmud, from Deputy Minister of Higher Education to Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Sabah, Sarawak Affairs);

Datuk Seri Arthur Joseph Kurop, from Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Food Security to Minister of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability, replacing the incumbent Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad.

Rafizi and Nik Nazmi both resigned after failing to defend their posts as PKR deputy president and vice-president respectively at the party's elections in May.

In addition, Datuk Seri Dr Noraini Ahmad has been 'promoted’ from Deputy Minister of Women, Family and Community Development to Minister of Plantations and Commodities, taking over from Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani, who has changed his Cabinet portfolio to Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry.

Also 'elevated’ is Datuk Seri R. Ramanan, leaving his post as Deputy Minister of Entrepreneur and Cooperatives Development to take over as the Minister of Human Resources.

He replaces Steven Sim, who has been made Minister of Entrepreneur and Cooperatives Development.

Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Religious Affairs) Dr Zulkifli Hassan, meanwhile, has been appointed as its minister, replacing the incumbent Datuk Dr Mohd Na’im Mokhtar.

The Prime Minister, when announcing the new lineup, said the move was taken due to vacancies in the Cabinet and the need to make some adjustments.

"This is so that the Cabinet can work as a team, focusing our attention on a fresher economic growth and resolving the people's problems,” he said.

The special announcement was telecast live by television stations, including Bernama TV, as well as social media platforms, including the Facebook pages of the Prime Minister and the Prime Minister's Office.

Also present at the announcement was Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Shamsul Azri Abu Bakar.

-- BERNAMA