A deputy defence minister has not yet been sworn in, as the post will be filled by a senator, said Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
"It will be someone who is not an elected representative, we have to appoint this person as a senator first," Mahathir said at a press conference in Putrajaya today.
Speculation is rife that the post would be filled by DAP political education director Liew Chin Tong, who lost his bid for the Ayer Hitam parliament seat on May 9 by 303 votes.
Mahathir, however, said that the absence of a deputy minister now does not impact cabinet proceedings.
This is because, if a minister is absent, his portfolio can be represented by another fellow minister, but not a deputy minister.
Instead, a deputy minister will be important to help answer questions during parliament proceedings.
Mahathir was speaking to reporters following the Pakatan Harapan presidential council meeting at the Perdana Leadership Foundation.
One of the matters discussed during the meeting was the Sungai Kandis by-election in Selangor, following the death of its incumbent Shuhami Shafie.
The seat will be retained by PKR. Party secretary-general Saifuddin Nasution, however, said that no names have been proposed yet by Selangor PKR.
Shuhami, a three-term assemblyperson, passed away on Monday after succumbing to an illness.
The Election Commission is expected to announce a date for the by-election on Monday.
-Mkini
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