KUALA LUMPUR (July 11): Plantation and Commodities Minister Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani has been tasked with carrying out the duties and functions of the natural resources and environmental sustainability minister, effective immediately.
In a statement on Friday, Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Shamsul Azhar Abbas, who is also the Cabinet secretary, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim had informed the Cabinet of the appointment during a meeting two days ago.
Johari, who is also the Titiwangsa member of Parliament, serves as a vice-president of Umno.
The natural resources and environmental sustainability portfolio became vacant following the resignation of Setiawangsa MP Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad, effective July 4.
Nik Nazmi’s exit came after he suffered a setback in the hotly contested PKR party elections in May, failing to retain his vice-president post in a 12-way race. He lost to Deputy Minister of Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives Datuk Seri R Ramanan.
Last month, the Cabinet also agreed for Second Finance Minister Datuk Seri Amir Hamzah Azizan to assume the responsibilities of the Economy Ministry following the resignation of Pandan MP Datuk Seri Mohd Rafizi Ramli, who lost his PKR deputy presidency to Nurul Izzah Anwar in the party elections.