KUALA LUMPUR (Dec 16): Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has announced 10 ministerial changes to his Cabinet line-up, with two ministers dropped from the new roster.
Among the most notable changes are the appointments of Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani as the new minister of investment, trade and industry, Johor Bahru MP Akmal Nasrullah Mohd Nasir as the new economy minister, as well as Hannah Yeoh as minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Federal Territories).
Johari, who previously served as minister of plantation and commodities, replaces Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz, who stepped down following the expiry of his maximum two-term tenure as a senator.
Akmal Nasrullah, formerly the deputy minister of energy transition and water transformation, was among six deputy ministers who were promoted to full ministerial positions.
Datuk Seri Dr Noraini Ahmad, formerly the deputy minister of women, family and community development, now heads the Ministry of Plantation and Commodities, while Datuk Seri Ramanan Ramakrishnan, previously the deputy minister of entrepreneur development and cooperatives, takes over as minister of human resources.
Datuk Seri Arthur Joseph Kurup, who served as deputy minister of agriculture and food security, has been appointed minister of natural resources and environmental sustainability.
Zulkifli Hasan, formerly deputy minister in the Prime Minister’s Department in charge of Religious Affairs, has been promoted to minister in charge of Religious Affairs.
Datuk Mustapha Sakmud, formerly deputy minister of higher education, will assume the newly created position of minister in the Prime Minister’s Department in charge of Sabah and Sarawak Affairs.
Besides Johari, two other ministers have swapped portfolios. Steven Sim, previously minister of human resources, has been assigned to the Ministry of Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives, while Yeoh, now a minister in the Prime Minister's Department, was formerly heading the Youth and Sports Ministry.
Meanwhile, Sungai Petani MP Mohammed Taufiq Johari makes his Cabinet debut as the new youth and sports minister.
Two incumbent ministers have been dropped from the new line-up: Datuk Dr Mohd Na’im Mokhtar, previously minister in the Prime Minister’s Department in charge of Religious Affairs, and Datuk Seri Dr Zaliha Mustafa, who held the post of minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Federal Territories).
There were also eight new appointments and 10 portfolio swaps at the deputy minister level.
The new appointments include Tawau MP Datuk Lo Su Fui as deputy minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Federal Territories); activist preacher Marhamah Rosli as deputy minister in the Prime Minister’s Department in charge of Religious Affairs; Miri MP Chiew Choon Man as deputy minister of tourism, arts and culture; Segamat MP Yuneswaran Ramaraj as deputy minister of national unity; Bayan Baru MP Sim Tze Tzin as deputy minister of investment, trade and industry; Paya Besar MP Datuk Indera Mohd Shahar Abdullah as deputy minister of economy; Ledang MP Syed Ibrahim Syed Noh as deputy minister of natural resources and environmental sustainability; and Mas Gading MP Mordi Bimol as deputy minister of youth and sports.
Among the 10 deputy ministers who saw their portfolios swapped were: Lim Hui Ying, previously the deputy finance minister, has been reassigned as deputy minister of women, family and community development, and Liew Chin Tong, previously deputy minister of investment, trade and industry, is now deputy finance minister.
Datuk Chan Foong Hin, formerly deputy minister of plantation and commodities, returns to the post of deputy minister of agriculture and food security. Deputy Health Minister Datuk Lukanisman Awang Sauni has been reassigned as deputy minister of foreign affairs, and Hanifah Hajar Taib, previously the deputy minister of economy, is now the new deputy health minister.
Meanwhile, Saraswathy Kandasamy, who was the deputy minister of national unity, was dropped.
Cabinet ministers now total 32, with 30 deputies
Overall, the number of Cabinet ministers now stands at 32 (including the prime minister), while the number of deputy ministers has increased to 30. This expansion reflects a net increase of one ministerial post via the addition of a dedicated portfolio for Sabah and Sarawak Affairs in the Prime Minister's Department, and one additional deputy minister through the creation of a new Federal Territories deputy role.
The latest announcement marks the second major Cabinet reshuffle under Anwar, primarily to fill vacancies created by recent resignations and expired terms. The first reshuffle took place on Dec 12, 2023, about a year after he first took office.
