Atrocious to reject ministers because of colour, race, says Anwar

The prime minister hits out at those who took issue with Hannah Yeoh's appointment as federal territories minister.

Federal territories minister Hannah Yeoh (left) and education minister Fadhlina Sidek during today’s Cabinet meeting at the Prime Minister’s Office in Putrajaya. (Facebook pic)

PUTRAJAYA:

 Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has hit out at those who took issue with Hannah Yeoh being named as the new federal territories minister in yesterday’s Cabinet reshuffle.

“To reject a person because of her colour, or race … that is atrocious in this day and age.

“And, sometimes I can’t understand the level of intolerance of some of our people,” he said at a meeting with editors here today.

Yeoh, who was the youth and sports minister, took over the federal territories portfolio previously held by Dr Zaliha Mustafa, one of the two ministers who will no longer sit in the Cabinet.

Gabungan Rakyat Sabah’s Lo Su Fui meanwhile was appointed as Yeoh’s deputy.

Critics of the new Cabinet lineup include PAS, whose secretary-general, Takiyuddin Hassan, said the appointment of two Chinese leaders to the federal territories portfolio was a deliberate strategy to strengthen DAP’s dominance in major urban centres. - FMT

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