One minister and four deputies ‘missing’ so far

PETALING JAYA: The portfolios of a minister and four deputy ministers have been left unfilled after the swearingin yesterday.

However, Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said three more ministers would be appointed.

Tanjung Piai MP Dr Md Farid Md Rafik of Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia is a Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department. He is in charge of Unity and Social Harmony, but there is no minister for that portfolio.

This means there will be two more ministerial positions, but it is unclear what portfolios they would be.

There are also no deputy ministers for Defence, Economic Affairs, Foreign Affairs and Housing and Local Government.

DAP’s political education director Liew Chin Tong, who is widely tipped to be appointed as a senator, declined to comment.

Bernama quoted Dr Mahathir as saying three more ministers would be appointed to bring the number of Cabinet ministers to 29.

The three ministers could only be appointed after the individuals had been sworn in as senators, he said, indicating that they might not be politicians but professionals.

“We have 26 now. There are three more to go,” he told the news agency after the swearingin of 13 more ministers and 23 deputy ministers at Istana Negara.

Thirteen ministers, led by Deputy Prime Minister and Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, were sworn in last month.

The first meeting of the first session of the 14th Parliament is set to convene from July 16 to Aug 16.

Dr Mahathir said he would meet with all ministers and deputy ministers to explain their roles.

On the appointment of a new Chief Justice to succeed Tun Md Raus Sharif, he said it would be made known after Md Raus completed his service at the end of the month.

The Government already had a candidate, Bernama reported Dr Mahathir as saying.