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PUTRAJAYA: A “one- or two-month stint” became a permanent posting for Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali at the Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry.
“I am rather shocked by the appointment. When the Prime Minister asked me to become the acting minister, he told me it was only temporary and for just a month or two.
“This is a heavy and challenging task which I will shoulder. But I am confident with the team at the ministry, we can carry out the tasks that this ministry is supposed to do,” he told The Star when contacted on Tuesday (Dec 12).
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Foremost among his priorities, he said, is to address subsidy leakages and the activities of cartels that cost the government money and prevent controlled items from reaching their intended beneficiaries.
In a Cabinet reshuffle earlier in the day, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim had announced that Armizan would helm the ministry.
Armizan was appointed acting minister following the demise of Datuk Seri Salahuddin Ayub in July.
Armizan was also a minister in the Prime Minister's Department overseeing Sabah and Sarawak Affairs as well as Special Functions.
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The 47-year-old Sabahan said his plans were to ensure the three main functions of his ministry – to create a progressive domestic trade ecosystem, empower consumers and tackle cost of living issues – are carried out effectively.
“Since I became acting minister, I have observed that enforcement is one of the main keys of the ministry.
“This is one area I will focus on to effectively tackle subsidy leakages and put a stop to cartel activities,” he said.
Armizan said he also planned to continue with the Rahmah initiatives for the benefit of the people.
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