THE LIST: Najib shows his full cabinet list while as Muhyiddin Yassin looks on. — Bernama photo
KUALA LUMPUR: The new cabinet of Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, which was announced yesterday, consists of those with experience, as well as technocrats and representatives of the younger generation who are believed to be able to continue the national transformation agenda.
“I am confident that this Cabinet is capable of continuing the momentum of national transformation besides being able to boost public confidence in the government,” said the prime minister at a briefing for media editors shortly before announcing his list of Cabinet ministers.
“I’m convinced that the Cabinet members who were appointed have the integrity to discharge their duty and responsibilities as members of the administration and are liked by the people,” he said.
Besides being strengthened by two representatives of the younger generation, Najib also brought in the president of Transparency International Malaysia, Datuk Paul Low, which is seen as proof of his seriousness in further enhancing the integrity of the government in the efforts to fight corruption.
The selection of Maybank president Datuk Seri Abdul Wahid Omar into Najib’s Cabinet was also perceived as the prime minister’s serious effort in continuing the implementation of the
national economic transformation agenda.
“These technocrats can contribute in terms of the expertise they possess which is most important in contributing creative and constructive ideas for consideration by the government,” he said when announcing the cabinet list at his office in Putrajaya.
Najib also introduced ‘a leaner’ cabinet by reducing the number of ministries from 25 to 24, and streamlining several activities and work scopes of the ministries.
He said among the ministries streamlined were the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Higher Education which were merged to become the Ministry of Education which will have two ministers.
The Ministry of Federal Territories and Urban Wellbeing was streamlined to become the Ministry of Federal Territories, while the portfolio of Urban Wellbeing under the ministry was merged with the Housing and Local Government Ministry, he said.
“As a result, the functions of the ministry would have synergy so that it will be more effective,” he said.
The Ministry of Information Communication and Culture was streamlined to become the Ministry of Communications and Multimedia, while the culture element was merged with the Tourism Ministry.
“Following this move, the number of deputy ministers was reduced to 27, a reduction of 11 compared with 38 previously,” he said.
The prime minister said the number of ministers was almost the same as the previous Cabinet because the Barisan Nasional (BN) represented a big family and as such it was difficult to reduce the size of the cabinet as it had to accommodate many parties.
Referring to the absence of the representative from the BN component party, MCA, in his Cabinet, Najib said the Transport Ministry which was being looked after by another minister (Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein) might be held by the
representative of the party if the Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) of the party decided to retract the decision not to join the Cabinet.
MCA president Datuk Seri Chua Soi Lek had earlier announced that it would stick by the decision of the party not to accept any post in the Cabinet if the party’s performance in the 13th general election was worse than that of the 12th general election. The MCA only won seven parliamentary seats out of the 37 in the last general election
compared with 15 seats won in 2008.
Najib pointed out, however, that his Cabinet members would serve all the people regardless of race.
“We cannot adopt a racist attitude, we will look after everyone. Among the Sabah and Sarawak bumiputeras, there are Christians. We (BN) must be moderate and become a ‘centrist party’,” he said.
Commenting further on his move to bring in Abdul Wahid and Paul Low, Najib said he needed a strong team to manage the economic transformation and social transformation.
He said Abdul Wahid’s experience as a technocrat in the field of banking was believed to be able to help the government in proceeding with the transformation programme, while Paul Low would concentrate on strengthening integrity through the Institute of National Integrity (IIN) and handling matters pertaining to the Public Complaints Bureau.
“However, Abdul Wahid will assume his duty three weeks from now as he has to settle his tasks at Maybank first.
“Paul Low personally does not perceive his presence as a representative of the Chinese, but as a Malaysian citizen who is keen and determined to serve,” he said.
Najib said he hoped the MCA would be able to join his Cabinet soon because without the post in the government, it would be difficult for the party to recover its position.
Commenting on the appointment of Umno Youth head, Khairy Jamaludin as Minister of Youth and Sports, Najib said the MP for Rembau represented the young generation and it was hoped he would be the link between the government and the young generation.
Another individual who would be playing a similar role would be the MP for Kota Belud, Datuk Abdul Rahman Dahalan who was appointed a minister in the new ministry, the Ministry of Urban Wellbeing, Housing and Local Government.
Two women representatives appointed into Najib’s Cabinet were Datuk Rohani Abdul Karim, the MP for Batang Lupar who was appointed Minister for Women, Family and Community Development, and Batang Sadong MP Nancy Shukri who was appointed Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department.
Besides Abdul Wahid, Paul Low, Khairy, Abdul Rahman and Nancy, Najib’s Cabinet also featured four new faces as full ministers namely Arau MP Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim, Datuk Seri Idris Jusoh (Besut), Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor (Putrajaya) and Datuk Dr Ewon Ebin
(Ranau).
It was obvious that in Najib’s Cabinet, candidates who lost in the recent general election had not been appointed ministers or deputy ministers, including leaders of component parties such as Pertubuhan Pasokmomogun Kadazandusun Murut Bersatu (Upko) president Tan Sri Bernard Dompok.
The new cabinet line-up was announced live on local TV after Najib had obtained the consent from Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Abdul Halim Mu’adzam Shah at Istana Negara yesterday afternoon.
The King had also consented to the ceremony for the presentation of the instrument of appointment and the swearing-in ceremony for ministers and deputy ministers which would be held at Istana Negara at 9.30am
today.
On May 6, Najib was sworn in as prime minister before Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Abdul Halim at Balairong Seri Istana Negara.
Najib said he would hold his first cabinet meeting today to inspire the new members of the cabinet but the weekly cabinet meeting would be held every Wednesday as usual. — Bernama
(Early) 15 May 2013
Prime Minister unveils his Transformation Cabinet
KUALA LUMPUR: The new cabinet of Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, which was announced today, consists of those with experience, as well as technocrats and representatives of the younger generation who are believed to be able to continue the national transformation agenda.
“I am confident that this Cabinet is capable of continuing the momentum of national transformation besides being able to boost public confidence in the government,” said the Prime Minister at a briefing for media editors shortly before announcing his list of Cabinet ministers.
“I’m convinced that the Cabinet members who were appointed have the integrity to discharge their duty and responsibilities as members of the administration and are liked by the people,” he said.
Besides being strengthened by two representatives of the younger generation, Najib also brought in the president of Transparency International Malaysia, Datuk Paul Low, which is seen as proof of his seriousness in further enhancing the integrity of the government in the efforts to fight corruption.
The selection of Maybank president Datuk Seri Abdul Wahid Omar into Najib’s Cabinet was also perceived as the Prime Minister’s serious effort in continuing the implementation of the national economic transformation agenda.
“These technocrats can contribute in terms of the expertise that they possess which is most important in contributing creative and constructive ideas for consideration by the government,” he said when announcing the cabinet list at his office in Putrajaya. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak unveiled the new cabinet at 5:00 pm today.
The new line-up of Ministers and Deputy Ministers:
*Prime Minister and Finance 1: Najib Razak (UMNO)
*Deputy Prime Minister and education 1: Muhyiddin Yassin (UMNO)
Prime Minister’s Department:
*Ministers:
Jamil Khir Baharom (UMNO), 2. Abdul Wahid Omar (Senator), 3. Idris Jala (senator); 4. Joseph Kurup (PBRS), 5. Shahidan Kassim (UMNO), 6. Nancy Shukri (PBB), 7. Paul Low Seng Kwan (senator), 8. Joseph Entulu Belaun (PRS)
Deputy Ministers: 1. Razali Ibrahim (UMNO); 2. Waytha Moorthy Ponnusamy (Senator)
*Ministry of Finance:
Minister of Finance 1: Najib Razak (UMNO)
Minister of Finance 2: Ahmad Husni Mohamad Hanadzlah (UMNO)
Deputy Minister of Finance: Ahmad Maslan (UMNO)
Ministry of Transport:
Minister: (Acting post being held open pending MCA decision) Hishammuddin Hussein (UMNO)
Deputy Minister: Ab Aziz Kaprawi (UMNO)
*Ministry of Defence
Hishammuddin Hussein (UMNO)
Deputy Minister: Abdul Rahim Bakri (UMNO)
*Ministry of Home Affairs:
Minister: Ahmad Zahid Hamidi (UMNO)
Deputy Minister: Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar (PBB)
*Ministry of Education & Higher Learning
Minister 1: Muhyiddin Yassin (UMNO)
Minister 2: Idris Jusoh (UMNO)
Deputy Minister 1: Mary Yap Kain Ching (PBS)
Deputy Minister 2: P. Kamalanathan (MIC)
*Ministry of Works:
Minister: Fadillah Yusof (PBB)
Deputy Minister: Rosnah Abdul Rashid Shirlin (UMNO)
*Ministry of International Trade & Industry
Minister: Mustapa Mohamed (UMNO)
Deputy Minister: Hamim Samuri (UMNO)
*Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Minister: Anifah Aman (UMNO)
Deputy Minister: Hamzah Zainuddin
*Ministry of Domestic Trade, Co-operatives and Consumerism
Minister: Hasan Malek (UMNO)
Deputy Minister: Ahmad Bashah Mohamad Hanipah (Senator)
*Ministry of Communication & Multimedia
Minister: Ahmad Shabery Cheek (UMNO)
Deputy Minister: Jailani Johari (UMNO)
*Ministry of Human Resources
Minister: Richard Riot Jaem (SUPP)
Deputy Minister: Ismail Abdul Muttalib (UMNO)
*Ministry of Rural & Regional Development
Minister: Shafie Apdal (UMNO)
Deputy Minister: Alexander Nanta Linggi (PBB)
*Ministry of Urban Wellbeing, Housing & Local Government
Minister: Abdul Rahman Dahlan (UMNO)
Deputy Minister: Halimah Mohamad Saddique (UMNO)
*Ministry of Youth & Sport
Minister: Khairy Jamaluddin Abu Bakar (UMNO)
Deputy Minister: M. Saravanan (MIC)
*Ministry of Health
Minister: S. Subramaniam (MIC)
Deputy Minister: Hilmi Yahaya (UMNO)
*Ministry of the Federal Territories
Minister: Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor (UMNO)
Deputy Minister: J. Loga Bala Mohan (Senator)
*Ministry of Plantation Industries & Commodities
Minister: Douglas Uggah Embas (PBB)
Deputy Minister: Noriah Kasnon (UMNO)
*Ministry of Energy, Green Technology & Water
Minister: Maximus Johnity Ongkili (PBS)
Deputy Minister: Mahdzir Khalid (UMNO)
*Ministry of Agriculture and Agro-Based Industry
Minister: Ismail Sabri Yaakob (UMNO)
Deputy Minister: Tajuddin Abdul Rahman (UMNO)
*Ministry of Tourism & Culture
Minister: Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz (UMNO)
Deputy Minister: Joseph Salang Gandum (PRS)
*Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation
Minister: Ewon Ebin (UPKO)
Deputy Minister: Abu Bakar Mohamad Diah (UMNO)
*Ministry of Natural Resources & Environment
Minister: G. Palanivel (MIC)
Deputy Minister: James Dawos Mamit (PBB)
*Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development
Minister: Rohani Abdul Karim (PBB)
Deputy Minister: Azizah Mohamad Dun (UMNO)