Final Cabinet list with Agong – PM

KUALA LUMPUR: Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said the final Cabinet line-up has been finalised and the list has been submitted to Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Muhammad V.

The Prime Minister denied rumours of internal squabbling within Pakatan Harapan (PH) had delayed the announcement of the final Cabinet line-up.

“It’s not true,” he told Channel NewsAsia (CNA) in an interview when asked about a squabble delaying the announcement.

“I have already finished my list and I have submitted it to the King,” he added.

The Prime Minister also told a press conference after chairing Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia’s supreme council meeting at the party headquarters here Monday that the names of the remaining members of the Cabinet had been decided and would be announced at their swearing-in ceremony.

He said the swearing-in ceremony would be done when the Yang diPertuan Agong is available.

Currently, there are 14 ministers, including Dr Mahathir, in the last line-up finalised on May 21.

CNA reported that the final lineup will have 29 people in total.

A report by Malaysiakini quoting government sources last week said the list was submitted to the Agong on Wednesday, and would see a total of 28 ministers.

On May 21, the first batch of 13 Cabinet ministers took their oath of office before the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.

Dr Mahathir said that although each PH component party has submitted its list of names, he had also chosen some people who were not named in the list.

“I called up the people, ministers and deputy ministers to ask them whether they accept the post I’m giving them... And strangely, there was not much protest,” he was quoted as saying.

“There were some who felt that well, I should have given this and that ... but when it was pointed out to them that I have already filled those places, they didn’t protest, they accepted.”

So far, Parti Amanah Negara’s Khalid Samad and Datuk Mujahid Yusof Rawa have confirmed that their names were in the list.

Sabah is likely to get three full Cabinet posts, with all coming from Parti Warisan Sabah.

Chief Minister Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal had forwarded the names of six Warisan MPs to Dr Mahathir. They included Penampang MP Darell Leiking, Batu Sapi MP Datuk V.K. Liew, Silam MP Mohammad Ketapi and Kalabakan MP Ma’mun Sulaiman.