Teresa Kok refutes report that she is FT minister designate

Seputeh MP Teresa Kok has doused speculation that she will be named the next Federal Territories minister.

When contacted by Malaysiakini, Kok denied any such arrangement, stating, “I don’t know anything about this.”

She was responding to a report in China Press that listed her as the person likely to helm the Federal Territories portfolio.

Other than Kok, the daily also named Pakatan Harapan chief secretary Saifuddin Abdullah the possible foreign affairs minister, PKR secretary-general Saifuddin Nasution Ismail as energy, green technology and water minister, Sarawak PKR chief Baru Bian as tourism minister, and PKR vice-president Xavier Jeyakumar as works minister.

Meanwhile, the daily also reported DAP national chairperson Tan Kok Wai could be appointed as an ambassador instead of a minister.

Tan dismissed the report, however, telling Malaysiakini “I am baffled.”

China Press further said Perak DAP chief Nga Kor Ming, Sarawak DAP chief Chong Chien Jen and Kulai MP Teo Nie Ching are unlikely to make the cut.

Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad is slated to announce the remaining members of his cabinet soon, stating on Wednesday that it could be within this week or the next.

To date, 13 ministers have been sworn in.

While Mahathir has not stated exactly how many ministers his cabinet will comprise, Harapan sources told Malaysiakini that it will consist of 28, which implied there are 15 more spots to be filled.

This is believed to include two representatives each from Sabah and Sarawak.

Ministers already sworn in are: 

• Lim Guan Eng (DAP) – Finance
• Muhyiddin Yassin (Bersatu) – Home
• Mohamad Sabu (Amanah) - Defence
• Anthony Loke (DAP) – Transport
• M Kulasegaran (DAP) – Human Resources
• Maszlee Malik (Bersatu) – Education
• Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail (PKR) – Women and Family Development
• Mohamed Azmin Ali (PKR) – Economic Affairs
• Zuraida Kamaruddin (PKR) – Housing and Local Government
• Salahuddin Ayub (Amanah) – Agriculture and Agro-based Industries
• Rina Harun (Bersatu) – Rural Development
• Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad (Amanah) – Health
• Gobind Singh (DAP) – Communication and Multimedia -Mkini