Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin has surprised many with an announcement that there is currently no need to appoint a Deputy Prime Minister.

Unveiling his Cabinet line-up in Putrajaya this afternoon, he explained there are four senior ministers who have been appointed to assist the Prime Minister's duties.

The four are former PKR deputy president, Datuk Seri Azmin Ali (International Trade and Industry), Umno vice president, Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob (Defence), Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) chief whip,
Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof (Works) and Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia supreme council member, Dr Mohd Radzi Md Jidin (Education).

"The senior ministers will assist the Prime Minister's duties including chairing the Cabinet meetings during my absence in the country.

"There is currently no need for a deputy prime minister to be appointed," he said.

In addition, the government will also create a special portfolio on Sabah and Sarawak affairs in an effort to address the issues of development and socio-economic progress of the two states.

In the announcement, the government has also agreed to restructure the Ministry of Education by re-establishing the Ministry of Higher Education aimed at empowering the Ministry of Education.

"The MOHE will focus on the higher education sector and the Ministry of Education will focus on pre-primary, primary and secondary education," he added.

The Prime Minister has also described this line-up as a “functional cabinet” which would be able to deliver its services in a more focused and effective manner.

“For this, I have appointed four senior ministers who will help me coordinate the affairs of the cabinet related to economy, security, infrastructure development, education and social (issues).

“The appointment of these senior ministers will enable the issues which arise between the ministries and the abovementioned fields to be streamlined in a more effective manner.

“In summary, I want to form a cabinet which can provide the best service to the rakyat – a cabinet that delivers,” he added.

With the appointment of these senior ministers, Muhyiddin said there is no need for a deputy prime minister at this point in time.

The full Cabinet list:

Prime Minister: Muhyiddin Yassin

Prime Minister's Department:
Economy: Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed
Deputy: Arthur Joseph Kurup

Special Affairs: Datuk Seri Mohd Redzuan Md Yusof
Deputy: Mastura Yazid

Law and Parliament: Datuk Takiyuddin Hassan
Deputy: Datuk Eddin Syazlee Shith

Religious Affairs: Datuk Seri Dr Hj Zulkifli Mohamad Al-Bakri (to be made a senator)
Deputy: Ahmad Marzuk Shaary

Sabah and Sarawak Affairs: Datuk Seri Panglima Dr Maximus Johnity Ongkili
Deputy: Datuk Hanifah Hajar Taib

Finance Ministry:
Minister: Tengku Datuk Seri Tengku Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz (to be made a senator)
Deputy I: YB Datuk Abd Rahim Bakeri
Deputy II: Mohd Shahar Abdullah Menteri

Transport Ministry:
Minister: Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong
Deputy: Hasbi Habibollah

Environment Ministry:
Minister: Datuk Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man
Deputy: Datuk Dr Ahmad Masrizal Muhammad (to be made a senator)

Human Resource Ministry:
Minister: Datuk Seri M. Saravanan
Deputy: Haji Awang Hashim

Federal Territories Ministry:
Minister: Tan Sri Annuar Musa
Deputy: Datuk Seri Dr Santhara Kumar

Women and Family Ministry:
Minister: Datuk Seri Rina Harun
Deputy: Datuk Siti Zailah Mohd Yusoff

Higher Education Ministry:
Minister: Datuk Dr Noraini Ahmad
Deputy: Datuk Dr Mansor Othman

Energy and Natural Resources Ministry:
Minister: Datuk Dr Shamsul Anuar Nasarah
Deputy: Ali Anak Biju

Home Ministry:
Minister: Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainuddin
Deputy I: Datuk Seri Dr Ismail Mohamed Said
Deputy II: Jonathan Yassin

Health Ministry:
Minister: Datuk Seri Dr Adham Baba
Deputy I: Datuk Dr Noor Azmi Ghazali
Deputy II: Datuk Aaron Ago Dagang

Agriculture and Food Industry Ministry:
Minister: Datuk Seri Dr Ronald Kiandee
Deputy I: Datuk Seri Ahmad Hamzah
Deputy II: Datuk Che Abdullah Mat Nawi

Rural Development Ministry:
Minister: Datuk Dr Abd Latiff Ahmad
Deputy I: Datuk Abdul Rahman Mohamad
Deputy II: Datuk Henry Sum Agong

Foreign Affairs Ministry:
Minister: Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein
Deputy: Datuk Kamaruddin Jaffar

Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry:
Minister: Datuk Alexander Nanta Linggi
Deputy: Datuk Rosol Wahid

Communications and Multimedia Ministry:
Minister: Datuk Seri Saifuddin Abdullah
Deputy: Datuk Zahidi Zainul Abidin

Housing and Local Government Ministry:
Minister: Zuraida Kamaruddin
Deputy: Datuk Seri Ismail Abd Mutalib

Science, Technology and Innovation Ministry:
Minister: Khairy Jamaluddin
Deputy: Ahmad Amzad Hashim

Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives Ministry
Minister: Datuk Seri Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar
Deputy: Datuk Wira Mas Ermieyati Samsudin

Primary Industries and Commodities Ministry:
Minister: Dr Mohd Khairuddin Aman Razali
Deputy I: Datuk Sri Dr Wee Jeck Seng
Deputy II: Willie Mongin

Tourism, Arts and Culture Ministry:
Minister: Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri
Deputy: Datuk Dr Jeffrey Kitingan

National Unity Ministry:
Minister: Halimah Mohamed Sadique
Deputy: Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing

Youth and Sports Ministry:
Minister: Datuk Seri Reezal Merican Naina Merican
Deputy: Wan Ahmad Fayhsal Wan Ahmad Kamal (to be made a senator)