Senior ministers equal rank but Azmin to chair cabinet meetings in PM's absence

All the four senior ministers in the new Perikatan Nasional cabinet are equal in rank, Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin said today.

However, Muhyiddin told a press conference at the Prime Minister's Office this afternoon that in his absence, cabinet meetings would be chaired by Azmin Ali, who is the international trade and industries minister.

"They are all equal," Muhyiddin said, answering a question on the inner workings of the new cabinet which sees the government having no deputy prime minister for the first time.

"Except I told the cabinet today that in my absence, Azmin will chair the cabinet meetings or do what is necessary when I am away," he added.

According to Muhyiddin, if Azmin was also not available, the next minister in charge would be Ismail Sabri, who is defence minister.

On Monday, Muhyiddin unveiled the names of his ministers and their respective deputies. In total, there are 31 ministers and 37 deputy ministers.

Describing the lineup as a "functional cabinet", Muhyiddin had said that the four senior ministers would help him coordinate the affairs of the cabinet according to sectors, namely economy, security, infrastructure development, education and social issues.

Besides Azmin and Ismail, the two other senior ministers are Works Minister Fadillah Yusof and Education Minister Mohd Radzi Md Jidin.

Meanwhile, when asked for confirmation on the status of Azmin and former PKR MPs who followed him into Bersatu, Muhyiddin confirmed that they have officially been accepted as party members.

"Yes. In fact, their application had been agreed to by the Bersatu supreme council. The council accepted their application to join us.

"That is as far as the party is concerned," Muhyiddin said.

Azmin is formerly a PKR deputy president but was dismissed from the party after he engineered what is dubbed as "Sheraton Move" last month, which led to the fall of the Pakatan Harapan government. - Mkini