Explain why cabinet not gazetted, or quit, PAS tells gov't

PAS wants the Pakatan Harapan government to explain why its ministers have not had their positions gazetted one year after taking over Putrajaya.

If they fail to give a satisfactory answer, PAS secretary-general Takiyuddin Hassan said the cabinet should "take full responsibility and immediately resign."

Takiyuddin said this was not a matter to be taken lightly.

"The act of gazetting their appointments should not be considered petty by the government as it involves the legality of the cabinet's duties and the effect of the powers used by them," he said in a statement today.

In light of this, PAS wants de facto Law Minister Liew Vui Keong, Chief Secretary to the Government Ismail Bakar, and Attorney-General Tommy Thomas to give a detailed explanation on the matter.

Liew had revealed in a recent interview that while the chief secretary had approved the ministerial functions order for the Harapan government, the matter had yet to be gazetted as per the Ministerial Functions Act 1969.

A check with the Federal Gazette shows that following the change of government after the May 9 general election, only Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad has had his job gazetted, as of May 22 last year.

By comparison, BN had its 2013 cabinet line-up gazetted on June 26, 2013, almost two months after that year's election.

The gazette is meant to formalise the duties of each minister and lists the agencies and departments that fall under his or her purview.

It is unclear as to why the Harapan government is yet to gazette its ministers. - Mkini