KUALA LUMPUR – Seven ministers, including two new appointees, and eight deputy ministers officially took their oaths of office before the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Sultan Ibrahim, at Istana Negara today, marking the latest reshuffle of the Madani Government Cabinet.
The Ceremony of Presentation of the Instruments of Appointment, the Taking of the Oath of Office and Allegiance, and the Oath of Secrecy took place at Singgahsana Kecil, beginning at 10 am. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, who also serves as the Minister of Finance, attended the ceremony along with Chief Justice Datuk Seri Wan Ahmad Farid Wan Salleh, who witnessed the signing of the official appointment documents.
The new appointments follow several vacancies and adjustments within the cabinet, announced by Anwar yesterday. Among the key appointments, Datuk Seri Arthur Joseph Kurup was named Minister of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability, while Datuk Seri Dr Noraini Ahmad takes over as Minister of Plantations and Commodities. Datuk Seri R. Ramanan was appointed Minister of Human Resources, and Akmal Nasrullah Mohd Nasir will serve as Minister of Economy. Datuk Mustapha Sakmud was appointed Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Sabah and Sarawak), and Dr Zulkifli Hasan assumes the role of Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs). Dr Mohammed Taufiq Johari was appointed as Minister of Youth and Sports.
The newly appointed deputy ministers are Sim Tze Tzin, Datuk Mohd Shahar Abdullah, R. Yuneswaran, Mordi Bimol, Syed Ibrahim Syed Noh, Chiew Choon Man, Datuk Lo Su Fui, and Marhamah Rosli, taking on key portfolios across investment, economy, youth, environment, tourism, and religious affairs.
The ceremony concluded with a photo session of the new ministers and deputy ministers with Sultan Ibrahim before departing Istana Negara at 10.45 am. The reshuffle is seen as a strategic move to strengthen the government’s focus on economic development, youth empowerment, and regional affairs in Sabah and Sarawak. — Bernama
