Fadillah pledges commitment; give MA63 right of place

KUCHING: The Cabinet reshuffle announced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim on Tuesday is not merely aimed at filling vacancies but a move to strengthen the Unity Government.

Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof said that he believes the Prime Minister has carefully assessed the suitability of each minister and portfolio assigned after monitoring throughout one year of the administration.

“I express my highest appreciation and thanks to the Prime Minister for continuing to place trust in me to assume the position of Deputy Prime Minister and entrusting me to lead the new ministry, the Ministry of Energy Transition and Public Utilities as well as the minister responsible for Sabah Sarawak Affairs.

“Similar to the year spent with the Ministry of Plantation and Commodities and two terms in the Ministry of Works previously, I pledge to do my best in fulfilling the duties and responsibilities of this new ministry.

“As for Sabah Sarawak Affairs, my priority will be to continue efforts to promptly resolve outstanding issues and place the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) in its rightful place, thereby narrowing the physical, economic, and social gaps between Sarawak, Sabah, and the peninsula,” he said in a statement following Anwar’s announcement.

Fadillah is confident the appointment of new faces with credibility, the establishment of a new ministry, restructuring of tasks in existing ministries, and portfolio changes can accelerate every plan or agenda carefully laid out by the Madani government for the welfare of the people.

“In rearranging the Cabinet, the Prime Minister’s priority is undoubtedly the stability of the nation and politics. This is crucial because for us to drive and strengthen the economy, the primary foundation is to attract investors and stable politics,” he said.

Meanwhile, Fadillah also expressed gratitude to all levels of management, officers, and staff at his previous ministry for their best cooperation and full commitment during his leadership and called for similar cooperation to be extended to his successor, Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani.

“I also invite all members of the newly announced Cabinet to remain focused on working for the people and the country and to further strengthen the bonds of unity within the Madani government as we face the challenges of 2024 and the subsequent years.

“Regardless of race, religion, and beyond political beliefs, may we together build a stable, progressive, and prosperous Madani Malaysia based on the Federal Constitution and the principles of the Rukun Negara,” he said.