Historic two DPMs, one from Sarawak, in Anwar's unity govt

KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has taken the unprecedented step of appointing two deputy prime ministers, one of whom is from Sarawak, in the new Cabinet of his Unity Government.

Anwar himself is the Finance Minister in the 28-member Cabinet, which was unveiled at Perdana Putra, Putrajaya last night.

Barisan Nasional (BN) chairman Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi is the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Rural and Regional Development.

The other Deputy Prime Minister is Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) senior vice-president Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof, who is representing Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS). He is also the Plantations and Commodities Minister.

Fourteen people are making their debut as ministers, including PKR deputy president Rafizi Ramli as Economic Affairs Minister, PKR vice-president Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad as Natural Resources, Environment and Climate Change Minister and PKR vice-president Chang Lih Kang as Science and Technology Minister.

The other new faces include PKR information chief Fahmi Fadzil, who is the Digital Communications Minister; Wanita PKR chief Fadhlina Sidek as the Education Minister and Sekijang MP Dr Zaliha Mustafa as the Health Minister.

Also appointed to the Cabinet for the first time are BN deputy chairman and UMNO deputy president Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan as Defence Minister and BN secretary-general and former Perak Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Zambry Abd Kadir, who is the new Foreign Minister.

The others are Perak DAP chairman Nga Kor Ming as Development and Local Government Minister, Batu Gajah MP V. Sivakumar as Human Resources Minister, People's Progressive Party (PDP) president Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing as Tourism Minister, Penampang MP Datuk Ewon Benedick as Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives Minister, Papar MP Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali as Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Sabah and Sarawak Affairs) and Syarie chief judge Mohd Na'im Mokhtar as the Religious Affairs Minister.

Nine former ministers have returned as ministers.

They are DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke, who has been appointed as Transport Minister, Amanah president Mohamad Sabu (Agriculture and Food Security Minister), GPS secretary-general Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi (Works Minister) and UMNO vice-president Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin (Higher Education Minister).

Wanita PBB vice-chief Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri has been appointed as Women, Family and Community Development Minister, Amanah deputy president Datuk Seri Salahuddin Ayub (Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Minister), UMNO supreme council member Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said (Law and Institutional Reform Minister).

Pakatan Harapan (PH) secretary-general Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail and Selangor BN treasurer Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz, who both lost in the 15th General Election (GE15), were also appointed to the Cabinet, as Home Minister, and Minister of International Trade and Industry respectively.

Two former deputy ministers have been promoted to ministers, with Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) vice-president Datuk Aaron Anak Dagang as National Unity Minister, and DAP national publicity assistant secretary Hannah Yeoh as Youth and Sports Minister.