New faces in Madani administration

 

A doctor, a handful of engineers and lawyers, a religious preacher, and an activist who campaigned against the Internal Security Act.

These were among the new faces who were appointed to the federal government on Tuesday as part of Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s sweeping cabinet reshuffle.

Although new to the Madani government, some of the nine individuals are also old hands when it comes to holding office, as they have been part of other administrations in the past.

Almost all of them are in their 30s and 40s and represent the next generation of leaders in their respective parties.

They are:

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Dr Taufiq Johari - youth and sports minister

• Age 29, from Kuala Lumpur

• Sungai Petani MP since 2022

• PKR Youth vice-chief

• The sixth among eight children of Dewan Rakyat speaker Johari Abdul

• Medical doctor by training
  

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Chiew Choon Man - deputy tourism, arts, and culture minister

• Age 34, from Sarawak

• One of the youngest MPs

• Miri MP since 2022

• PKR Youth vice-chief

• Lawyer by training
  

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Yuneswaran Ramaraj - deputy national unity minister

• Age 38, from Johor

• Segamat MP since 2022

• PKR supreme council member

• Became the first person to be convicted under the Peaceful Assembly Act in September 2013 for failing to notify the police 10 days before organising the Black 505 rally. The Federal Court has since ruled on July 1 that this requirement is no longer constitutional or valid.

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Mordi Bimol - deputy youth and sports minister

• Age 40, from Sarawak

• Two-term Mas Gading MP since 2018

• Sarawak DAP vice chairperson

• Sprang a surprise victory in the 14th general election (2018) by toppling BN heavyweight Anthony Nogeh Gumbek

• Former journalist
  

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Lo Su Fui - deputy minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Federal Territories)

• Age 44, from Sabah

• Tawau MP since 2022

• Deputy treasurer-general for Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS), which is part of the Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) coalition

• He is the sole MP and representative from his party to the Madani government

• Lawyer by training
  

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Marhamah Rosli - deputy minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs)

• Age 45, from Sabah

• Senator

• No partisan affiliation

• Heads a welfare foundation that teaches and cares for vulnerable children in Sabah

• Started a fund covering legal costs for the family of deceased Form One student Zara Qairina Mahathir

• Preacher and religious teacher
  

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Shahar Abdullah - deputy economy minister

• Age 45, from Pahang

• Two-term Paya Besar MP since 2018

• Former Pahang Umno youth chief

• Former deputy finance minister II under the Perikatan Nasional government from March 2020 to November 2022

• Engineer by training
  

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Sim Tze Tzin - deputy investment, trade, and industry minister

• Age 49, from Penang

• Three-term Bayan Baru MP since 2013 from PKR

• Former agriculture and agro-based Industries deputy minister under the first Pakatan Harapan government from 2018 to 2022

• Was scheduled as a witness in the royal commission of inquiry into the VK Lingam videotape in late 2007. In the end, he was not called to testify.

• Engineer by training
  

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Syed Ibrahim Syed Noh - deputy natural resources and environmental sustainability minister

• Age 61, from Johor

• Two-term Ledang MP since 2018, from PKR

• Johor PKR chief

• Former Gerakan Mansuhkan ISA and Bersih 2.0 leader

- Mkini