Me in the Cabinet?

MPs who were listed as members of the federal Cabinet coy over the ‘leaked’ information

KUALA LUMPUR: Several MPs whose names are said to be on a list of proposed ministers and deputy ministers that allegedly leaked Monday night appeared coy when pressed on the matter.

Those approached would neither confi rm nor deny the authenticity of the list but admitted having received personal calls from Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad over the past week.

“What list? I flew in late last night (Monday night) and I have not seen any list. Let’s wait for the official announcement. I have no idea,” Penampang MP Darell Leiking said when met during a briefi ng session for MPs at Parliament House yesterday.

The Parti Warisan Sabah deputy president, who is said to have been named as the International Trade and Industry Minister, said, however, that he was ready to serve if given the opportunity.

“Let the Prime Minister make the announcement because this is his Cabinet,” he said.

Parti Amanah Negara secretarygeneral Mohd Annuar Tahir also declined to comment when asked to confi rm the list in which he is purportedly named as the Deputy Works Minister.

“My name has been mentioned with regard to four ministries. So, we just wait.

“People are looking forward to this new government and want to see the new Cabinet. I believe their hopes are high and expectations are high, so whoever is appointed, will carry a big responsibility,” the Temerloh MP said.

Dr A. Xavier Jayakumar of PKR has also chosen to remain silent when asked about the list where he is said to be the Minister of Water, Land and Natural Resources.

“Let it be confirmed first. Whatever the portfolio, to us it is an honour for us to serve the country after having struggled for 20 years,” he said.

Kuantan MP Fuziah Salleh confirmed that she received a call from the Prime Minister who said he wanted to appoint her as a deputy minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (for

I flew in late last night (Monday night) and I have not seen any list. Let’s wait for the official announcement. Darell Leiking, Parti Warisan Sabah deputy president

religious affairs).

“At first, I felt that I would beat the wrong place (if appointed to the post). However, Dr Mahathir was hoping for a reformation. The PKR president ( Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail), upon consultation, suggested that I should accept the offer.

“It’s a male- dominated world and, maybe, there will be areas of women empowerment in the Islamic perspective that I could focus on, as well as the empowerment of the Syariah Court,” she told reporters.

Sarawak PKR chief and Selangau MP Baru Bian, who is reportedly named as the Works Minister in the list, also refused to confirm the news.

However, he was hopeful that the portfolio would be given to an MP from Sarawak or Sabah given its importance in boosting the infrastructure development in the two states.

A total of 13 new ministers for 12 ministries and 24 deputy ministers were said to be in the list.

They include Pakatan Harapan Secretariat chief Datuk Saifuddin Abdullah (for Foreign Minister); Seputeh MP Teresa Kok (Primary Industry Minister); Shah Alam MP Khalid Samad (Federal Territory Minister); Muar MP Syed Saddiq Abdul Rahman (Sports and Youth Minister) and Pokok Sena MP Mahfuz Omar ( Deputy Human Resources Minister).

Last month, Dr Mahathir announced the appointment of 13 ministers.

Istana Negara, in a statement on Monday, said the Yang di-Pertuan Agong had consented to the line-up submitted by the government and the swearing-in ceremony will be held on Monday.