Anwar Ibrahim

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim carried out the first cabinet reshuffle of his premiership on 12 December 2023.[1] Amir Hamzah Azizan was appointed the Minister of Finance II, Steven Sim Chee Keong was promoted to the Minister of Human Resources to replace V. Sivakumar, Dzulkefly Ahmad was reappointed the Minister of Health to replace Zaliha Mustafa, Gobind Singh Deo was appointed the Minister of Digital and Johari Abdul Ghani was appointed the Minister of Plantation and Commodities to replace Fadillah Yusof.

Background

Salahuddin Ayub

Salahuddin Ayub, the Minister of Domestic Trade and Costs of Living, died on 23 July 2023 as a result of brain hemorrhage.[2] Armizan Mohd Ali, the Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Sabah and Sarawak Affairs & Special Duties) was then appointed to replace Salahuddin as the acting minister on 30 July 2023.[3] His death triggered the cabinet reshuffle as the vacant position he left is expected to be filled in the cabinet reshuffle. Before the reshuffle, speculations and rumours about the reshuffle have been rife. In response, Anwar, Deputy Prime Ministers Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and Fadillah Yusof as well as other Cabinet ministers neither confirmed nor denied.[4][5][6][7][8][9] They and other Members of Parliament (MPs) also stressed that carrying out a reshuffle is the prerogative of Anwar as the Prime Minister.[10][11] Some political parties also voiced their opinions on the reshuffle.[12] Anwar added that the vacant position would only be filled when there was a suitable candidate.[13] Fadillah added that Anwar would carry out the reshuffle based on skillset, knowledge and expertise of an individual.[14] On 11 December 2023, it was confirmed that the cabinet reshuffle would be carried out with the swearing-in ceremony of the new Cabinet ministers and deputy ministers taking place at the Istana Negara at 2.30 pm the following day on 12 December 2023.[15]

Changes

Minister changes

While retaining their positions, both Deputy Prime Ministers Zahid and Fadillah were assigned with additional portfolios. Zahid is also responsible for National Disaster Management Agency, while Fadillah is responsible for Sabah and Sarawak, a portfolio which was held by Armizan Mohd Ali, now permanently appointed as Minister of Domestic Trade and Costs of Living and reassigned into new portfolio, namely Minister of Energy Transition and Public Utility, a new portfolio created after the previous Ministry of Natural Resources, Environment and Climate Change was splitted to two ministries, the other one being Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability which is being held by Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad. He was previously the NRECC minister. Meanwhile, Fadillah's previous portfolio, the Minister of Plantations and Commodities was held by Johari Abdul Ghani, which made his first ministerial appointment after five years.

The Ministry of Communications and Digital, which was led by Fahmi Fadzil, was another ministry that being splitted. He went on to became the Minister of Communications, while Gobind Singh Deo returned to the cabinet as the Minister of Digital, a portfolio that once being held by himself from 2018 until 2020 under the name of Ministry of Communications and Multimedia.

Zambry Abdul Kadir, Khaled Nordin and Mohamad Hasan, three Barisan Nasional member in the cabinet, swapped their portfolios between each other. Zambry was appointed as the Minister of Higher Education, replacing Khaled which himself succeed Mohamad as the Minister of Defence. Mohamad, on the other hand, was appointed as the Minister of Foreign Affairs, replacing Zambry.

Dr. Zaliha Mustafa was appointed as the Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Federal Territories), signifying the return of that portfolio into the cabinet. Dr. Dzulkefly Ahmad reappointed as the Minister of Health after holding that position in the seventh Mahathir cabinet.

To assist Anwar as Minister of Finance, former chief executive officer of the Employees Provident Fund (EPF), Amir Hamzah Azizan was appointed as the ministry's second minister. His appointment as Senator hours before reshuffle announcement sparked rumours that he will joins the cabinet.

V. Sivakumar was the only minister to be dropped from the cabinet. His position was filled by Steven Sim Chee Keong, who was promoted as minister after serving as second Deputy Minister of Finance.

Cabinet-level changes

Colour key
  •      Joined the Cabinet
  •      Portfolio created or split
  •      Left the Cabinet
Minister Position before reshuffle Position after reshuffle
Amir Hamzah Azizan None Minister of Finance II
Fadillah Yusof Minister of Plantation and Commodities Minister of Energy Transition and Public Utilities & assigned to the Sabah and Sarawak Affairs portfolio
Mohamad Hasan Minister of Defence Minister of Foreign Affairs
Mohamed Khaled Nordin Minister of Higher Education Minister of Defence
Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad Minister of Natural Resources, Environment and Climate Change Minister of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability
Zambry Abdul Kadir Minister of Foreign Affairs Minister of Higher Education
Fahmi Fadzil Minister of Communications and Digital Minister of Communications
Dzulkefly Ahmad Backbench MP Minister of Health
Gobind Singh Deo Backbench MP Minister of Digital
Armizan Mohd Ali Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Sabah and Sarawak Affairs & Special Duties) Minister of Domestic Trade and Costs of Living
Johari Abdul Ghani Backbench MP Minister of Plantation and Commodities
Zaliha Mustafa Minister of Health Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Federal Territories)
Steven Sim Chee Keong Deputy Minister of Finance II Minister of Human Resources
V. Sivakumar Minister of Human Resources Dismissed from the government

Deputy ministerial changes

Colour key
  •      Joined the government
  •      Promoted
  •      Portfolio created or split
  •      Left the government
Deputy Minister Position before reshuffle Position after reshuffle
Abdul Rahman Mohamad Deputy Minister of Works Deputy Minister of Human Resources
Ahmad Maslan Deputy Minister of Finance II Deputy Minister of Works
Aiman Athirah Sabu Deputy Minister of Women, Family and Community Development Deputy Minister of Local Government Development
Akmal Nasrullah Mohd Nasir Deputy Minister of Local Government Development Deputy Minister of Energy Transition and Public Utilities
Arthur Joseph Kurup Deputy Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Food Security
Chan Foong Hin Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Food Security Deputy Minister of Plantation and Commodities
Huang Tiong Sii Deputy Minister of Natural Resources, Environment and Climate Change Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability
Lim Hui Ying Deputy Minister of Education Deputy Minister of Finance
M. Kulasegaran Backbench MP Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Law and Institutional Reform)
Yusof Apdal Deputy Minister of Higher Education Deputy Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation
Mustapha Sakmud Deputy Minister of Human Resources Deputy Minister of Higher Education
Noraini Ahmad Backbench MP Deputy Minister of Women, Family and Community Development
Ramanan Ramakrishnan Backbench MP Deputy Minister of Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives
Ramkarpal Singh Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Resigned from the government
Saraswathy Kandasami Deputy Minister of Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives Deputy Minister of National Unity
Siti Aminah Aching Deputy Minister of Plantation and Commodities Dismissed from the government
Steven Sim Chee Keong Deputy Minister of Finance II Minister of Human Resources
Teo Nie Ching Deputy Minister of Communications and Digital Deputy Minister of Communications
Wilson Ugak Kumbong Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Sabah and Sarawak Affairs & Special Duties) Deputy Minister of Digital
Wong Kah Woh Backbench MP Deputy Minister of Education
Zulkifli Hasan None Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Religious Affairs)

Reaction

Notes

    References

    1. ↑ "Cabinet reshuffle expected tomorrow, say sources". The Star. 11 December 2023. Retrieved 11 December 2023.
    2. ↑ "Salahuddin Ayub passes away following surgery". The Star. 23 July 2023. Retrieved 11 December 2023.
    3. ↑ "Armizan to temporarily replace Salahuddin as Domestic Trade Minister, says PM". The Star. 30 July 2023. Retrieved 11 December 2023.
    4. ↑ "No Cabinet reshuffle discussion held with Anwar, says Zahid". The Star. 3 October 2023. Retrieved 11 December 2023.
    5. ↑ "Anwar hints of Cabinet reshuffle by year-end in light-hearted exchange with boy". The Star. 1 December 2023. Retrieved 11 December 2023.
    6. ↑ "No discussions of reshuffle, post at today's cabinet meeting, says Mohamed Khaled". The Star. 4 October 2023. Retrieved 11 December 2023.
    7. ↑ "No discussion of reshuffle at Cabinet meeting, says Fahmi". The Star. 27 September 2023. Retrieved 11 December 2023.
    8. ↑ "Anwar says 'still thinking' about possible Cabinet reshuffle". The Star. 27 September 2023. Retrieved 11 December 2023.
    9. ↑ "PM Anwar coy on talk of a Cabinet reshuffle". The Star. 24 November 2023. Retrieved 11 December 2023.
    10. ↑ "Up to PM if he wants to reshuffle Cabinet, says Zahid". The Star. 27 May 2023. Retrieved 11 December 2023.
    11. ↑ "PM's prerogative to decide on cabinet reshuffle, says Johari". The Star. 1 October 2023. Retrieved 11 December 2023.
    12. ↑ "Everyone free to voice opinions on Cabinet reshuffle but it is PM's decision, says Johor MCA Youth chief". The Star. 10 October 2023. Retrieved 11 December 2023.
    13. ↑ "Cabinet vacancy to be filled only when there's a suitable candidate, says Anwar". The Star. 18 October 2023. Retrieved 11 December 2023.
    14. ↑ "Anwar will prioritise skillset, knowledge in any Cabinet reshuffle, says Fadillah". The Star. 2 December 2023. Retrieved 11 December 2023.
    15. ↑ "SWEARING-IN CEREMONY OF FEDERAL MINISTERS TOMORROW - SOURCES". BERNAMA. 11 December 2023. Retrieved 11 December 2023.
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