By Nur Ashikin Louis
PUTRAJAYA, Dec 3: Malaysia’s new Cabinet ministers were sworn in before Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah at Istana Negara today.
Raja Permaisuri Agong Tunku Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah also witnessed the 28 ministers taking their oaths of office, loyalty and secrecy.
The swearing-in ceremony was held following the unveiling of the Cabinet line-up by Prime Minister Dato Seri Anwar Ibrahim last night (Dec 2).
The ministers took their oaths in groups, with the first group comprising the two deputy prime ministers, Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof.
The second group comprised Agriculture and Food Security Minister Mohamad Sabu, Transport Minister Anthony Loke Siew Fook, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Economy) Muhammad Rafizi Ramli, Housing and Local Government Minister Nga Kor Ming and Defense Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan.
They were followed by the third group comprising Works Minister Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi, Home Affairs Minister Senator Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail, International Trade and Industry Minister Senator Tengku Zafrul Aziz, Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin and Science and Technology Minister Chang Li Kang.
The fourth group comprised Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri, Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Minister Datuk Seri Salahuddin Ayub, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said, Natural Resources, Environment and Climate Change Minister Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad and Entrepreneurship Development and Cooperative Minister Datuk Ewon Benedick.
The fifth group comprised Foreign Affairs Minister Senator Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir, Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing, Digital Communication Minister Ahmad Fahmi Mohamed Fadzil, Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek and National Unity Minister Datuk Aaron Ago Dagang.
The last group of ministers were made up of Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs) Senator Datuk Dr Mohd Na’im Mokhtar, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Sabah and Sarawak Affairs) Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali, Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh Tseow Suan, Human Resources Minister Sivakumar Varatharaju Naidu and Health Minister Dr Zaliha Mustafa.
The ceremony began at 3pm with the singing of the national anthem, ‘Negaraku’.
Also in attendance were Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and his wife, Wan Azizah Wan Ismail.
After taking their oaths, the ministers signed the official instrument of appointment, witnessed by Chief Justice Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat and chief secretary to the government Mohd Zuki Ali.
Earlier this morning, four of the 28 cabinet ministers were sworn in as senators. They are Saifuddin who is the Pakatan Harapan (PH) secretary-general, Tengku Zafrul — the former finance minister, Dr Zambry — Barisan Nasional (BN) secretary-general and Mohd Na’im — Chief Syariah Court Judge of Malaysia. — DayakDaily
