PM Anwar announces Malaysia Cabinet reshuffle, appoints EPF CEO as 2nd Finance Minister

PUTRAJAYA, MALAYSIA: Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim on Tuesday (12 Dec) morning announced a Cabinet reshuffle just one year into his Madani Government’s leadership following the Nov 2022 General Election.

Datuk Seri Amir Hamzah Azizan, previously the CEO of the Malaysian Employees’ Provident Fund (EPF), has been appointed as the second Finance Minister (FM II).

Addressing the media during a press conference at the Prime Minister’s office in Putrajaya, PM Anwar stated that the decision was the result of consultations with leaders from various parties within the unity government.

He emphasized critical concerns such as the cost of living, economic development, education, and higher education, especially in the context of emerging sectors like artificial intelligence and digital transformation.

This necessitated a reevaluation and adjustments to address the prevailing conditions.

Anwar’s Cabinet restructuring led to the creation of two new ministries: the Ministry for Digital and Energy Transition and the Public Utilities Ministry.

Both were split from the former Communication and Digital Ministry and the Ministry of Natural Resources, Environment, and Climate Change (NRECC).

The newly appointed second Finance Minister was sworn in as a Senator in Dewan Negara at the Parliament today.

He becomes the second technocrat in the Finance Ministry with a corporate background, following the path of former FM Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz, who served as the group CEO and executive director of CIMB Group Holdings Bhd from Feb 27, 2015, to March 9, 2020.

Several former ministers return to cabinet

Anwar Ibrahim’s recent cabinet reshuffle marks the return of several former ministers to their previous roles.

Notably, Datuk Seri Dzulkefly Ahmad, a former Health Minister during the Pakatan Harapan (PH) government, has been reappointed to lead the Ministry of Health.

Incumbent Health Minister Dr Zaliha Mustafa has been assigned as the Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department for Federal Territories.

Former Communications and Multimedia Minister and Damansara MP, Gobind Singh, has made a comeback to the cabinet and now assumes the role of Malaysia’s new Digital Minister.

Meanwhile, Lembah Pantai MP, Fahmi Fadzil, has been reassigned as the Communications Minister.

Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani is set to become the new Plantation and Commodities Minister, succeeding Dato’ Sri Fadhillah Yusof, who also serves as Deputy Prime Minister.

DPM Fadhillah will lead the new Energy Transition and Public Utilities Ministry.

There were also changes in positions for certain ministers or deputy ministers. For instance, Deputy Education Minister Lim Hui Ying has been appointed as the deputy Finance Minister.

Defense Minister Mohamad Hasan will take over the Foreign Minister’s post from Datuk Seri Zambry Abd Kadir, who, in turn, will head the Higher Education Ministry previously overseen by Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin.

Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali, formerly a Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, has been tasked with leading the Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry, which had been vacant since July after the passing of Datuk Seri Salahuddin Ayub.

Additionally, M. Kulasegaran, a DAP lawmaker, has been appointed as Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department for Law and Institutional Reform.

Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan from UMNO has transitioned to the Works Ministry as a deputy minister.

The Full List Of Anwar’s reshuffled Cabinet on 12 December 2023:

PM: Anwar Ibrahim (Pakatan Harapan Chairman, PKR MP for Tambun)

DPM:  Ahmad Zahid Hamidi(UMNO President, MP for Bagan Datuk)

DPM: Fadillah Yusof (Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) MP for Petra Jaya)

1) Prime Minister Office:

• Minister(Law and Institutional Reformation): Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said(UMNO MP for Pangerang)
• Deputy: M Kulasegaran (DAP MP for Ipoh Barat)
• Minister (Sabah and Sarawak affairs): Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali (GRS MP for Papar)
• Minister(Religous Affairs): Datuk Seri Mohd Na’im Mokhtar (National Chief Judge)
• Deputy: Dr Zulkifli Hasan (Senator)
• Minister (Federal Territory): Dr Zaliha Mustafa (PKR MP for Sekijang)

2) Finance:

• Minister: Anwar Ibrahim
• Deputy:Datuk Seri Amir Hamzah Azizan (former EPF CEO)
• Deputy: Lim Hui Ying (DAP MP for Tanjong)

3)Ministry of rural and regional development:

• Minister: Ahmad Zahid
• Deputy:  Datuk Rubiah Wang (GPS MP for Kota Samarahan)

4)Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security: 

• Minister: Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu (Amanah MP for Kota Raja)
• Deputy: Datuk Arthur Joseph Kurup (Sabah United People’s Party MP for Pensiangan)

5)Ministry of Transport (MoT):

• Minister: Anthony Loke (DAP MP for Seremban)
• Deputy: Datuk Hasbi Habibollah (GPS MP for Limang)

6) Home Ministry:

• Minister: Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail (PKR Senator)
• Deputy: Datuk Seri Shamsul Anuar Nasarah (UMNO MP for Lenggong)

7）Ministry of Economy:

• Minister: Rafizi bin Ramli (PKR MP for Pandan)
• Deputy: Datuk Hanifah Hajar Taib (GPS MP for Mukah)

8）Ministry of Local Government:

• Minister:  Nga Kor Ming(DAP MP for Teluk Intan)
• Deputy:   Datuk Aiman ​​Athirah Sabu (Amanah MP for Sepang)

9）Ministry of Defence (MINDEF):

• Minister: Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin(UMNO MP for Kota Tinggi)
• Deputy: Adli Zahari (Amanah MP for Alor Gajah)

10）Ministry of Public Works: 

• Minister: Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi (GPS MP for Kapit)
• Deputy: Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan (UMNO MP for Pontian)

11）Ministry of Digital: 

• Minister: Gobind Singh Deo (DAP MP for Damansara)
• Deputy: Datuk Ugak Anak Kumbong (previously Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department in charge of Sabah, Sarawak affairs and special functions)

12）Ministry of International Trade and Industry(MITI):

• Minister: Senator Datuk Seri Tengku Zafrul(former Finance Minister under Ismail Sabri’s govt)
• Deputy: Liew Chin Tong (DAP MP for Iskandar Puteri)

13）Ministry of Higher Education:

• Minister: Datuk Seri Zambry Abd Kadir (UMNO Senator)
• Deputy: Datuk Mustapha@Mohd Yunus Sakmud

14）Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation:

• Minister: Chang Lih Kang(DAP MP for Tanjong Malim)
• Deputy:  Datuk Mohammad Yusof Apdal (Warisan MP for Lahad Datu)

15）Ministry of Women, Family, and Community Development:

• Minister: Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri (GPS MP for Santubong)
• Deputy: Datuk Seri Noraini Ahmad (UMNO MP for Parit Sulong)

16）Ministry of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living:

• Minister: Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali (GRS MP for Papar)
• Deputy: Fuziah Salleh (PKR Senator)

17）Ministry of Natural Resources and Sustainability (formerly known as NRECC)

• Minister: Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad(PKR MP for Setiawangsa)
• Deputy: Dato’ Sri Huang Tiong Sii (GPS MP for Sarikei)

18）Ministry of Foreign Affairs : 

• Minister: Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan (UMNO MPfor Rembau)
• Deputy: Datuk Mohamad Alamin (UMNO MP for Kimanis)

19）Ministry of Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives: 

• Minister: Datuk Ewon Benedick(PH-UPKO MP for Penampang)
• Deputy:  Datuk R Ramakrishnan (PKR MP for Sungai Buloh)

20）Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture(MoTAC): 

• Minister: Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing (GPS MP for Bintulu)
• Deputy: Khairul Firdaus Akbar Khan (GRS MP for Batu Sapi)

21）Ministry of Education:

• Minister: Fadhlina Sidek (PKR MP for Nibong Tebal)
• Deputy: Wong Kah Woh (DAP MP for Taiping)

22）Ministry of Unity:

• Minister: Datuk Aaron Ago Dagang (GPS MP for Kanowit)
• Deputy: K Saraswathy (PKR Senator)

23)Ministry of Youth and Sports :

• Minister: Hannah Yeoh (DAP MP for Segambut)
• Deputy: Adam Adli Abd Halim (PKR MP for Hang Tuah Jaya)

24) Ministry of Health:

• Minister: Datuk Seri Dzulkefly Ahmad (Amanah MP for Kuala Selangor)
• Deputy:  Datuk Lukanisman Awang Sauni (GPS MP for Sibuti)

25) Ministry of Human Resources:

• Minister: Steven Sim Chee Keong (PKR MP for Bukit Mertajam)
• Deputy: Datuk Seri Abdul Rahman Mohamad (UMNO MP for Lipis)

26) Ministry of Plantations and Commodities:

• Minister: Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani (UMNO MP for Titiwangsa)
• Deputy: Datuk Chan Foong Hin (DAP MP for Kota Kinabalu)

27) Ministry of Energy Transition and Public Utilities (new ministry)

• Minister: DPM Fadillah Yusof
• Deputy: Akmal Nasrullah Mohd Nasir (previously deputy Local Government Development minister)

28) Ministry of Communications

• Minister – Fahmi Fadzil (PKR MP for Lembah Pantai)
• Deputy – Teo Nie Ching (DAP MP for Kulai)