Pakatan Harapan chief secretary Saifuddin Abdullah has clarified that there is no promise of a second deputy prime minister for East Malaysia in the coalition’s 14th general election manifestopresented back in March.
“It is not in the manifesto.
“This is something that is really up to the prime minister, but to the best of my understanding, the Harapan presidential council is not pushing for a DPM II,” he said when asked about this during a press conference at the Bersatu headquarters today.
Saifuddin elaborated that this was in line with Harapan’s promise to trim the number of cabinet ministers.
“The main idea is the cabinet of the Harapan government, as we promised, will be smaller than that of the previous administration,” he added.
Earlier today, Sarawak DAP youth publicity secretary Abdul Aziz Isa urged Mahathir to appoint a DPM II solely responsible for Sabah and Sarawak affairs, in order to uplift the economic status of East Malaysians.
Despite not making it into the eventual manifesto, Harapan had previously promised a deputy prime minister from East Malaysia in its Sabah manifesto in September last year.
Sabah, Sarawak cabinet ministers
Meanwhile, Saifuddin assured that discussions to make lawmakers from the East Malaysian states federal cabinet ministers are ongoing.
“We will, of course, include Sabah and Sarawak (in the federal cabinet).
“In the context of Sabah, the discussions are definitely (being held) with Warisan,” he clarified.
Thirteen cabinet ministers were sworn in before the Yang Di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Muhammad V yesterday.
Last week, Saifuddin took to Twitter to say that Sabahan and Sarawakian lawmakers would be represented in the "second batch" of ministers.
Malaysiakini understands that at least another 12 federal ministers have yet to be announced. -Mkini
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