By Nur Ashikin Louis
KUCHING, Dec 2: Prime Minister Dato Sri Anwar Ibrahim today unveiled the new Federal Cabinet lineup, with Dato Sri Fadillah Yusof announced as Deputy Prime Minister (DPM) and four other Sarawakian MPs as full ministers.
Fadillah’s appointment marks the first time in history that a DPM post is held by a representative from the Borneo States.
The Petra Jaya MP is also appointed Plantation and Commodity Minister under the new Federal unity government.
Previously, he had served as Senior Minister of Works from Aug 2021 to Nov 2022, Senior Minister of Infrastructure Development (March 2020 to Aug 2021), Minister of Works (May 2013 to May 2018 and March 2020 to Aug 2021), as well as Deputy Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation (March 2008 to May 2013).
He is also the chief whip of Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) and vice president of Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) – one out of four component parties in GPS alongside Sarawak United Peoples’ Party (SUPP), Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) and Progressive Democratic Party (PDP).
At the same time, GPS secretary General Dato Sri Alexander Nanta Linggi is appointed Works Minister, taking over Fadillah’s former portfolio.
Nanta, had served as Minister of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs (March 2020 to Nov 2022) and Deputy Minister of Rural and Regional Development (May 2013 to May 2018).
PDP president Dato Sri Tiong King Sing was appointed as Minister of Tourism.
This is the first time that the six-term Bintulu MP was given a full ministerial post. He had previously served as Special Envoy of the Prime Minister to East Asia from 2014 to 2018 and Special Envoy of the Prime Minister to China from 2020 to Nov 2022.
Meanwhile,Santubong MP Dato Sri Nancy Shukri has been appointed as Women, Family and Community Development Minister.
Nancy had served as Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture (March 2020 to Nov 2022), Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (May 2013 to May 2018), and acting Minister of Plantation Industries and Commodities (May 2016 to June 2016).
National Unity Minister Aaron Ago Dagang from PRS was formerly Deputy Health Minister. This is the first time he has been elevated to be a full minister.
Anwar announced the new cabinet line-up at a press conference held in Putrajaya broadcast live on social media and official television channels today.
Following the end of 15th General Election (GE15), GPS is the fourth political bloc with the highest number of seats at 23, after Pakatan Harapan (82), Perikatan Nasional (73) and Barisan Nasional (30).
On Nov 24, the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah appointed PH chairman Anwar Ibrahim as the Prime Minister who later obtained support from BN, GPS, Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS), Parti Warisan (Warisan), Malaysian United Democratic Alliance (Muda), Parti Bangsa Malaysia (PBM) and independent MPs to form the unity government. On the other hand, PN will play the role of the Opposition. — DayakDaily
