KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 30 (NNN-Bernama) — A total of 30 Cabinet ministers and 37 deputy ministers were sworn in before the King, Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah at Istana Negara here today.
The Queen, Tunku Hajah Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah was in attendance.
The new Cabinet line-up under Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob’s administration comprising 31 ministers including four senior ministers and 38 deputy ministers was announced last Friday.
Two of them were unable to attend the swearing-in ceremony today namely Noh Omar (Minister of Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives) as he had been a close contact of COVID-19 patient and Mohamad Alamin (Deputy Education Minister II) who was tested positive for COVID-19.
Ismail Sabri was also unable to attend the ceremony as he had to undergo self-quarantine for having been a close contact of COVID-19.
The ceremony, held in the Throne Room, began at 2.30 pm with the oath-taking followed by the signing of the appointment letters which was witnessed by Chief Justice Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat and Chief Secretary to the Government Mohd Zuki Ali.
The ministers were divided into five groups while the deputy ministers, into six groups, in taking their oath of office before the King.
The first group of seven ministers comprised four senior ministers – Mohamed Azmin Ali (International Trade and Industry), Hishammuddin Tun Hussein (Defence), Fadillah Yusof (Works) and Senator Dr Mohd Radzi Jidin (Education).
The three others in the first group were Finance Minister Senator Tengku Zafrul Tengku Aziz, Minister of Transport Dr Wee Ka Siong and Human Resources Minister M. Saravanan.
Second Group:
- Dr Maximus Johnity Ongkili – Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Sabah and Sarawak Affairs
- Dr Ronald Kiandee – Minister of Agriculture and Food Industries
- Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man – Minister of Environment and Water
- Hamzah Zainudin – Home Minister
- Alexander Nanta Linggi – Minister of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs
- Takiyuddin Hassan – Minister of Energy and Natural Resources
- Dr Noraini Ahmad – Minister of Higher Education
Third Group:
- Rina Mohd Harun – Minister of Women, Family and Community Development
- Annuar Musa – Minister of Communications and Multimedia
- Reezal Merican Naina Merican – Minister of Housing and Local Government
- Khairy Jamaluddin – Minister of Health
- Halimah Mohamed Sadique – Minister of National Unity
- Dr Adham Baba – Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation
- Mustapa Mohamed – Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Economy)
Fourth Group:
- Saifuddin Abdullah – Foreign Minister
- Dr Zuraida Kamaruddin – Minister of Plantation Industries and Commodoties
- Dr Abdul Latiff Ahmad – Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Special Functions)
- Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar (Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Parliament and Law)
- Nancy Shukri – Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture)
Fifth Group:
- Mahdzir Khalid – Minister of Rural Development
- Shahidan Kassim – Minister of Federal Territories
- Faizal Azumu – Minister of Youth and Sports
- Senator Idris Ahmad – Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs)
The ceremony then proceeded with the swearing-in of 37 deputy ministers and was concluded with their photo session with both Al-Sultan Abdullah and Tunku Azizah.
