One year later: PM Anwar reshuffles Cabinet, announces four new ministries

Anwar (left) showing the new federal cabinet lineup list while Zahid looks on at a press conference in Putrajaya on Dec 12, 2023. Photo credit: Prime Minister's Office (PMO)

By Yee Mei

PUTRAJAYA, Dec 12: After rumours have been adrift about a Cabinet reshuffle, Prime Minister Dato Seri Anwar Ibrahim finally put them to rest by announcing a new Cabinet line-up this morning, approximately a year after he took office.

During a press conference livestreamed via Bernama, Anwar announced several changes in the Federal Cabinet line-up.

He said the decision was made after discussions with party leaders in the unity government.

Speaking to the media, Anwar explained that the Cabinet reshuffle was due to the need to change with the times and ministers’ performances.

He elaborated that the reshuffle considered changes in terms of economic growth, cost of living, and international acceptance, which has changed how the Foreign Ministry works.

Anwar also brought up issues concerning higher education, especially with exploring new fields such as artificial intelligence (AI) and digital transformation.

“The swearing-in later today will only involve new ministers and deputies.

“If the Cabinet performs well and there are no outside threats, I don’t see the need to make any more changes (in the line-up) for the next four years until the next election,” he said in the press conference at the Prime Minister’s Office today.

Among the highlights of the announcement are the four new ministries: Energy Transition and Public Utilities, Natural Resources and Sustainability, Communications, and Digital Ministry.

The new ministries resulted from two ministries—the Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Ministry and the Communications and Digital Ministry—each being split.

While V. Sivakumar has been dropped as Human Resources Minister, the reshuffle sees Gobind Singh Deo, Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad, Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani, Steven Sim Chee Keong, and Datuk Seri Amir Hamzah Azizan (appointed Senator) as new ministers.

As for deputy ministers, Ramkarpal Singh Karpal Singh (Prime Minister’s Department—Law and Institutional Reformation) and Datuk Siti Aminah Aching (Plantation Industries and Commodities) were dropped, with Datuk Seri Noraini Ahmad, M. Kulasegaran V. Murugeson, Dato’ Ramanan Ramakrishnan, Wong Kah Woh, and Dr Zulkifli Hasan (appointed Senator) appointed into the Cabinet.

The reshuffle sees the number of ministers and deputy ministers increasing from 28 to 31 and 27 to 29, respectively. Overall, the number of Cabinet members increased from 55 to 60, a total still below the 70 Cabinet members in the previous administration.

The new Federal Cabinet line-up is as follows:

— DayakDaily