KUCHING, June 26: A federal ministerial list stating that state Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) chief Baru Bian is the new Works Minister and state Pakatan Harapan chief Chong Chieng Jen is the Deputy Minister of Domestic Trade, Co-operatives and Consumerism (KPDNKK) has gone viral.
Only two MPs from Sarawak are in the list.
Baru is Selangau MP and Ba ‘Kelalan assemblyman, while Chong is Stampin MP and Kota Sentosa assemblyman.
When contacted, both Baru and Chong were tight-lipped. They neither confirmed nor denied what was stated in the list.
Baru simply said he had no comment on it, while Chong advised DayakDaily to wait for the official announcement.
The list was, however, later described as “not final and accurate” by a Malaysiakini reporter after contacting his source.
The source allegedly told Malaysiakini that the list “doesn’t look like the final list though it appears to be accurate for most”. It seemed that some names were missing and some MPs were not in the right portfolios.
Meanwhile, The Malaysian Insight has reported a full list of 28 ministers and 24 deputy ministers and claimed it to be “confirmed as true”.
The Malaysian Insight, quoting a highly placed source, stated that the list now going viral “is final”.
Baru and Chong appeared in both lists, with Baru as the Works Minister and Chong the KPDNKK Deputy Minister.
Last Friday, Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad submitted 15 additional names for the endorsement of the Yang Di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Muhammad V.
There had been many speculations on who would be on the list.
Whether the list that has gone viral now is the final list or not, Malaysians will have to wait until Monday (July 2) to know for certain. The swearing-in of the new ministers and deputy ministers is scheduled to be held at Istana Negara on that day.
— DayakDaily
