Still some vacant positions in Dr M's cabinet

Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad said there are still some vacancies in his cabinet that will be filled by senators in the near future.

"There are two or three more (to go). We are 29 in total," said Mahathir when met after the swearing in of 13 new cabinet members and 23 deputy ministers at Istana Negara this morning.

It is uncertain at this point if the 29 took into account the fact that deputy prime minister Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail is also the women, family and community development minister.

So far, it can be determined that there is one vacancy for a minister in the prime minister's department in charge of national unity and social well-being.

A deputy minister for this portfolio - Mohd Farid Mohd Rafik (Bersatu-Tangjung Piai) - was sworn in this morning.

Meanwhile, the deputies to the defence minister, economy minister, foreign minister as well as housing and local government minister have yet to be announced.

It is widely speculated that Amanah vice-president Husam Musa and DAP political education director Liew Chin Tong would be appointed as deputy ministers.

Should Mahathir's cabinet involve only 29 members eventually, it will be a reduction from the 35 cabinet ministers seen in the previous cabinet.

The previous cabinet had nine ministers in the prime minister’s department while the present currently eventually will have three for religion, law and national unity.

The new administration also appears to have merged the previous "science, technology and innovation" ministry with the "energy, green technology and water" ministry.

Mahathir's three newly established ministries are economy, entrepreneurial development and primary industries. - Mkini