Not all coalition party presidents appointed ministers in new cabinet

For the first time, the new government under Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, did not include several party presidents in the cabinet including UMNO president, Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang.

MIC president, S Vigneswaran and Parti Pesaka Bumiputra Bersatu Sarawak (PBB) president who is also Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) chairman, Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Abang Openg were seen left out of ministerial positions.

The division of posts in the cabinet according to party saw 10 Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) MPs; nine UMNO members; PBB (four); PAS (three); and one each from Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS), MIC and MCA appointed to head ministries.

The Bersatu members are Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali (International Trade and Industry Minister); Dr Mohd Radzi Md Jidin (Education Minister); Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed (Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Economy); Datuk Seri Mohd Redzuan Md Yusof (Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Special Functions); and Datuk Seri Rina Mohd Harun (Women and Family Development Minister).

Apart from that, Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainuddin (Home Minister); Datuk Seri Dr Ronald Kiandee (Agriculture and Agro-based Industries Minister); Datuk Dr Abd Latiff Ahmad (Rural Development Minister); Datuk Seri Saifuddin Abdullah (Communications and Multimedia Minister); and Zuraida Kamaruddin (Housing and Local Government Minister).

The cabinet ministers from UMNO are Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob (Defence Minister); Tan Sri Annuar Musa (Federal Territories Minister); Datuk Dr Noraini Ahmad (Higher Education Minister); Datuk Dr Shamsul Anuar Nasarah (Energy and Natural Resources Minister); Datuk Seri Dr Adham Baba (Health Minister);

Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein (Foreign Minister); Khairy Jamaluddin (Science, Technology and Innovation Minister); Datuk Halimah Mohamed Sadique (National Unity Minister); and Datuk Seri Reezal Merican Naina Merican (Youth and Sports Minister).

The cabinet this time also witnessed PAS returning to the federal government after joining the Alliance coalition government from 1973 to 1974 and Barisan Nasional (BN) from 1974 to 1977.

The PAS representatives appointed as ministers are Datuk Takiyuddin Hassan as Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Parliament and Law); PAS deputy president Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man (Environment Minister) and Datuk Dr Mohd Khairuddin Aman Razali (Plantation Industries and Commodities Minister).

Members of PBB appointed as ministers are Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof (Works Minister); Datuk Alexander Nanta Linggi (Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister); Datuk Seri Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar (Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives Minister); and Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri (Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister).

Parti Bersatu Sabah saw its president Datuk Seri Dr Maximus Johnity Ongkili selected as Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Sabah and Sarawak Affairs), while MCA president Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong was made Transport Minister while MIC deputy president Datuk Seri Saravanan Murugan (Human Resource Minister).

Meanwhile, the two professionals who were appointed as Senators to fill the ministerial portfolios are CIMB Group Holdings Bhd chief executive officer Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz as Finance Minister and Federal Territories Mufti Datuk Seri Dr Zulkifli Mohamad Al-Bakri as Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Religious Affairs).