MAHATHIR’S MUCH-AWAITED CABINET LINEUP TO BE ANNOUNCED BY JUNE 20 – TIAN CHUA

KUALA LUMPUR: PKR vice-president Tian Chua has asked the media not to speculate on the Cabinet lineup as the announcement on new ministers is likely to be made by June 20.

“The delay is because Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad was in Japan and due to the Hari Raya holidays.

“There is no other reason for the delay,” he told FMT when asked on the reasons for the delay in the PH government announcing the full Cabinet.

Asked if his name would be in the list, he answered in the negative as he was no longer an MP.

Tian Chua was disqualified from seeking a third term in Batu at the May 9 general election. His nomination papers were rejected by a returning officer because of a conviction and fine on a charge of insulting a policeman.

The fine of RM3,000 was reduced to RM2,000 after he appealed to the High Court. The Federal Constitution disqualifies anyone fined not less than RM2,000 from standing for election.

The new Cabinet under the Pakatan Harapan (PH) administration was sworn in on May 21, nearly two weeks after the coalition’s shocking election victory ended Barisan Nasional’s 60 years in power.

Thirteen federal ministers took their oaths of office in a ceremony at the royal palace before Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Muhammad V.

Mahathir had said the Cabinet would eventually have 25 ministers in total.

Since then, there has been a lot of speculation in the media on who will be in the Cabinet, with many Sabah and Sarawak MPs rumoured to be on the list.

MKINI