SHAH ALAM: Kota Raja MP and Amanah President Mohamad Sabu or Mat Sabu, 64, has been named as the Defence Minister by Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad today. Dr Mahathir also named Pagoh MP and Warisan President TS Muhyiddin Yassin, 70, as Home Affairs Minister.
Bagan MP and DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng, 57, will assumed the Finance Ministry post. Dr Mahathir only named three ministers at his press conference today stating that the Pakatan Harapan presidential council will defer naming the other seven ministers to another date. He said three was the most important post in the cabinet after the PM and the Deputy Prime Minister. DS Wan Azizah Wan Ismail has been appointed as the DPM.
This will be Mat Sabu first post in the government after years being in the opposition bench. Although mostly underated for his appearance, the Penang born politician rose as the deputy president of PAS likely for his oratorial skills. Unfortunately, his years in opposition had also produced many meme inducing moments though it must be said however we should not judge him before he even put a single step at the Defense Ministry.
Moreover, the PH coalition has set up a council to oversee the government’s administration so Mat Sabu will have plenty of help. Unlike Mat Sabu, Muhyiddin and Guan Eng are season administrators, both having served as Menteri Besar and Chief Minister, respectively.
–Malaysian Defence
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Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad has announced three ministers in the new cabinet lineup.
The three are DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng for finance, Amanah president Mohamad Sabu for defence, and Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin for home affairs.
“We have not named the seven other ministers.
“We request the four parties from the coalition to submit three names from each party for the consideration of the prime minister,” Mahathir said in a press conference at the Bersatu headquarters today.
The press conference, which started around 3.30pm, comes after a Pakatan Harapan presidential council meeting that started earlier this morning.
It is learnt that PKR has yet to decide on the party's appointees for the cabinet.
While the candidates for the ministerial positions will be submitted to him, Mahathir said he will consult the parties further if necessary before making his final decision.
He also stated that the Pakatan Harapan government intends to have a small cabinet of just 25 members, but conceded it may later be necessary to have more ministers from Sabah and Sarawak.
As many from Harapan lack experience in running a government, Mahathir announced that a 'council of elders' would also be set up to provide assistance.
This council will consist of eminent persons, including former finance minister Daim Zainuddin, former Bank Negara governor Zeti Akhtar Aziz, former Petronas president Mohd Hassan Merican, tycoon Robert Kuok, and economist Jomo Kwame Sundaram.
The Amanah president responds to Rafizi Ramli who questioned the announcement of key Cabinet portfolios for Amanah, PPBM and DAP.
PETALING JAYA: Amanah’s Mohamad Sabu, who was today named by Dr Mahathir Mohamad as the defence minister, has defended the prime minister’s decision to announce him and three others for top Cabinet posts.
Speaking to FMT, Mohamad disagreed with PKR vice-president Rafizi Ramli who said that talks were still pending between Mahathir and PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim over the choice of Cabinet members, saying the matter had been decided at the Pakatan Harapan presidential meeting.
Mohamad was named by Mahathir for the defence portfolio, while DAP’s Lim Guan Eng is the new finance minister and PPBM’s Muhyiddin Yassin the home minister. PKR president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail is appointed as the deputy prime minister as agreed months earlier.
Mohamad said while PH component parties were free to propose candidates for ministerial posts, the prime minister still had the final say.
“It is up to the prime minister to elect. It’s his prerogative,” he said.
Meanwhile, asked about his appointment as the defence minister, Mohamad, better known as Mat Sabu, said he has a lot to learn.
He refused to state if he would introduce any defence policy, saying he would first discuss with Mahathir.
He also refused to say whether there would be a policy shift on Malaysia’s involvement in the Saudi-led military operation in Yemen.
“We’ll discuss about it,” said Mat Sabu.
