Cabinet sworn in

Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail leads line-up of 13 Cabinet ministers in taking their oath of office before the King.

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia’s first female Deputy Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, led a lineup of 13 Cabinet ministers in taking their oath of office, loyalty and secrecy before Yang diPertuan Agong Sultan Muhammad V at Istana Negara.

The swearingin, which took place at the Singgahsana Kecil (Minor Throne Room) of the palace, was witnessed by Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad. Also present was his wife Tun Dr Siti Hasmah Mohamad Ali.

The ceremony began at 5.45pm yesterday with the acceptance of the instrument of appointment by Dr Wan Azizah, who is also PKR president and Women and Family Development Minister.

She then took her oath and signed the official instrument of appointment, witnessed by Chief Justice Tun Raus Sharif and Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Dr Ali Hamsa.

Then, Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, DAP secretarygeneral Lim Guan Eng and Parti Amanah Negara president Mohamad Sabu took their oath together as the Home Minister, Finance Minister and Defence Minister respectively.

Simpang Renggam MP Dr Maszlee Malik, Titiwangsa MP Rina Harun and PKR deputy president Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali then took their oath as the Education Minister, Rural Development Minister and Economic Affairs Minister respectively.

Subsequently, Wanita PKR chief Zuraida Kamaruddin, DAP organising secretary Anthony Loke and DAP deputy chairman Gobind Singh Deo took their oath together as the Housing and Local Government, Transport and Communications and Multimedia Ministers respectively.

Then, Amanah deputy president Salahuddin Ayub, DAP vicechair

man M. Kulasegaran and Amanah strategic director Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad took their oath as the Agriculture and Agrobased Industry Minister, Human Resource Minister and Health Minister respectively.

Dr Mahathir was sworn in as Malaysia’s seventh Prime Minister on May 10, a day after Pakatan Harapan won GE14 after defeating

Barisan Nasional, which had been in power for 61 years.

Dr Mahathir is expected to name the rest of his Cabinet lineup in stages. — Bernama

— Bernama Historic moment: The Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Muhammad V presenting the appointment letter to Dr Wan Azizah during the oath of office ceremony at Istana Negara. Wan Azizah is Malaysia’s first woman DPM.