All 27 deputy ministers take oaths of office

 

All 27 deputy ministers were today sworn in before Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah at the Istana Negara today.

They took their oaths of office, loyalty and secrecy before signing the official documents on their appointment, witnessed by Chief Justice Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat and Chief Secretary to the Government Mohd Zuki Ali.

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and his wife Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail were present to witness the ceremony, which began at 3pm.

Also in attendance were the two Deputy Prime Ministers - Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, who is also Rural and Regional Development Minister, and Fadillah Yusof, who is also Plantation Industries and Commodities Minister - and their wives.

Also present were Inspector-General of Police Acryl Sani Abdullah Sani and Chief of Defence Force Affendi Buang.

The deputy ministers’ line-up was unveiled by Anwar last night.

At the swearing-in ceremony, the deputy ministers were divided into four groups, with the first group led by the two deputy finance ministers, namely Umno secretary-general Ahmad Maslan and DAP national organising secretary Steven Sim Chee Keong.

Also in this group were Kota Samarahan Rubiah Wang, who is Deputy Rural and Regional Development Minister; Beaufort MP Siti Aminah Aching (Deputy Plantation Industries and Commodities Minister); Hasbi Habibollah (Deputy Transport Minister); Chan Foong Hin (Deputy Agriculture and Food Security Ministry) and Hanifah Hajar Taib (Deputy Economy Minister).

The second group comprised seven deputy ministers, including PKR strategic director Akmal Nasrullah Mohd Nasir (Local Government Development Ministry), Melaka Pakatan Harapan (Harapan) chairperson Adly Zahari (Defence Ministry) and Abdul Rahman Mohamad (Works Ministry).

The others in the group were BN communications director Shamsul Anuar Nasarah, who is Deputy Home Minister; Johor DAP chairperson Liew Chin Tong (International Trade and Industry Ministry); Lahad Datu MP Mohamad Yusof Apdal (Higher Education Ministry); and Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah (PBRS) deputy president Arthur Joseph Kurup (Science, Technology and Innovation Ministry).

[ More to come ] - Mkini