2023 Malaysian cabinet reshuffle

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Anwar Ibrahim Anwar Ibrahim 09012023 (cropped).jpg
Anwar Ibrahim

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim carried out the first cabinet reshuffle of his premiership on 12 December 2023. [1] Amir Hamzah Azizan was appointed the Minister of Finance II, Steven Sim Chee Keong was promoted to the Minister of Human Resources to replace V. Sivakumar, Dzulkefly Ahmad was reappointed the Minister of Health to replace Zaliha Mustafa, Gobind Singh Deo was appointed the Minister of Digital and Johari Abdul Ghani was appointed the Minister of Plantation and Commodities to replace Fadillah Yusof.

Contents

Background

Salahuddin Ayub Datuk Seri Salahuddin Ayub.jpg
Salahuddin Ayub

Salahuddin Ayub, the Minister of Domestic Trade and Costs of Living, died in office on 23 July 2023 as a result of brain hemorrhage. [2] Armizan Mohd Ali, the Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Sabah and Sarawak Affairs & Special Duties) was then appointed to replace Salahuddin as the acting minister on 30 July 2023. [3] His death triggered the cabinet reshuffle as the vacant position he left was expected to be filled in the cabinet reshuffle. Before the reshuffle, speculations and rumours about the reshuffle have been rife. In response, Anwar, Deputy Prime Ministers Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and Fadillah as well as other Cabinet ministers neither confirmed nor denied. [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] They and other Members of Parliament (MPs) also stressed that carrying out a reshuffle is the prerogative of Anwar as the Prime Minister. [10] [11] Some political parties also voiced their opinions on the reshuffle. [12] Anwar added that the vacant position would only be filled when there was a suitable candidate. [13] Fadillah added that Anwar would carry out the reshuffle based on skillset, knowledge and expertise of an individual. [14] On 11 December 2023, it was confirmed that the cabinet reshuffle would be carried out with the swearing-in ceremony of the new Cabinet ministers and deputy ministers taking place at the Istana Negara at 2.30 pm the following day on 12 December 2023. [15]

Changes

Minister changes

While retaining their positions, both Deputy Prime Ministers Zahid and Fadillah were assigned with additional portfolios. Zahid is also responsible for National Disaster Management Agency, while Fadillah is responsible for Sabah and Sarawak, a portfolio which was held by Armizan Mohd Ali, now permanently appointed as Minister of Domestic Trade and Costs of Living and reassigned into new portfolio, namely Minister of Energy Transition and Public Utility, a new portfolio created after the previous Ministry of Natural Resources, Environment and Climate Change was splitted to two ministries, the other one being Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability which is being held by Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad. He was previously the NRECC minister. Meanwhile, Fadillah's previous portfolio, the Minister of Plantations and Commodities was held by Johari Abdul Ghani, which made his first ministerial appointment after five years.

The Ministry of Communications and Digital, which was led by Fahmi Fadzil, was another ministry that being splitted. He went on to became the Minister of Communications, while Gobind Singh Deo returned to the cabinet as the Minister of Digital, a portfolio that once being held by himself from 2018 until 2020 under the name of Ministry of Communications and Multimedia.

Zambry Abdul Kadir, Khaled Nordin and Mohamad Hasan, three Barisan Nasional member in the cabinet, swapped their portfolios between each other. Zambry was appointed as the Minister of Higher Education, replacing Khaled which himself succeed Mohamad as the Minister of Defence. Mohamad, on the other hand, was appointed as the Minister of Foreign Affairs, replacing Zambry.

Dr. Zaliha Mustafa was appointed as the Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Federal Territories), signifying the return of that portfolio into the cabinet. Dr. Dzulkefly Ahmad reappointed as the Minister of Health after holding that position in the seventh Mahathir cabinet.

To assist Anwar as Minister of Finance, former chief executive officer of the Employees Provident Fund (EPF), Amir Hamzah Azizan was appointed as the ministry's second minister. His appointment as Senator hours before reshuffle announcement sparked rumours that he will joins the cabinet.

V. Sivakumar was the only minister to be dropped from the cabinet. His position was filled by Steven Sim Chee Keong, who was promoted as minister after serving as second Deputy Minister of Finance.

Cabinet-level changes

Colour key
  •      Joined the Cabinet
  •      Portfolio created or split
  •      Left the Cabinet
MinisterPosition before reshufflePosition after reshuffle
Amir Hamzah Azizan None Minister of Finance II
Fadillah Yusof 2021.jpg Fadillah Yusof Minister of Plantation and Commodities Minister of Energy Transition and Public Utilities & assigned to the Sabah and Sarawak Affairs portfolio
Tok Mat with Ambassador McFeeters.jpg Mohamad Hasan Minister of Defence Minister of Foreign Affairs
MOHE Minister YB Datuk Sri Mohamed Khaled Nordin (cropped).jpg Mohamed Khaled Nordin Minister of Higher Education Minister of Defence
Nik Nazmi 2023.jpg Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad Minister of Natural Resources, Environment and Climate Change Minister of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability
Zambry Abdul Kadir - 2023 (cropped).jpg Zambry Abdul Kadir Minister of Foreign Affairs Minister of Higher Education
Fahmi Fadzil 2023 (cropped).jpg Fahmi Fadzil Minister of Communications and Digital Minister of Communications
DS Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad.jpg Dzulkefly Ahmad Backbench MP Minister of Health
Gobind Singh Deo - Global Conference for Media Freedom (48256794802) (cropped).jpg Gobind Singh Deo Backbench MP Minister of Digital
Armizan Mohd Ali Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Sabah and Sarawak Affairs & Special Duties) Minister of Domestic Trade and Costs of Living
Johari Abdul Ghani 2017.jpg Johari Abdul Ghani Backbench MP Minister of Plantation and Commodities
Dr Zaliha Mustafa 2023 (cropped).jpg Zaliha Mustafa Minister of Health Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Federal Territories)
Steven Sim.jpg Steven Sim Chee Keong Deputy Minister of Finance II Minister of Human Resources
V. Sivakumar 2023(cropped).jpg V. Sivakumar Minister of Human Resources Dismissed from the government

Deputy ministerial changes

Colour key
  •      Joined the government
  •      Promoted
  •      Portfolio created or split
  •      Left the government
Deputy MinisterPosition before reshufflePosition after reshuffle
Tokman.jpg Abdul Rahman Mohamad Deputy Minister of WorksDeputy Minister of Human Resources
Ahmad Maslan 2014.jpg Ahmad Maslan Deputy Minister of Finance IIDeputy Minister of Works
Aiman Athirah Sabu Deputy Minister of Women, Family and Community DevelopmentDeputy Minister of Local Government Development
Akmal Nasrullah Mohd Nasir Deputy Minister of Local Government DevelopmentDeputy Minister of Energy Transition and Public Utilities
Arthur Joseph Kurup Deputy Minister of Science, Technology and InnovationDeputy Minister of Agriculture and Food Security
Ya Bi Qu Guo Hui Yi Yuan Chen Hong Jian Zhi Ci - Ucapan YB Tuan Chan Foong Hin (MP Kota Kinabalu).png Chan Foong Hin Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Food SecurityDeputy Minister of Plantation and Commodities
Huang Tiong Sii Deputy Minister of Natural Resources, Environment and Climate ChangeDeputy Minister of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability
Lim Hui Ying Deputy Minister of EducationDeputy Minister of Finance
M Kula Segaran.jpg M. Kulasegaran Backbench MPDeputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Law and Institutional Reform)
Yusof Apdal Deputy Minister of Higher EducationDeputy Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation
Mustapha Sakmud Deputy Minister of Human ResourcesDeputy Minister of Higher Education
Dr Noraini Ahmad Menteri Pengajian Tinggi Malaysia.jpg Noraini Ahmad Backbench MPDeputy Minister of Women, Family and Community Development
Ramanan Ramakrishnan Backbench MPDeputy Minister of Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives
Ramkarpal Singh Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Law and Institutional Reform)Resigned from the government
Saraswathy Kandasami Deputy Minister of Entrepreneur Development and CooperativesDeputy Minister of National Unity
Siti Aminah Aching Deputy Minister of Plantation and CommoditiesDismissed from the government
Steven Sim.jpg Steven Sim Chee Keong Deputy Minister of Finance II Minister of Human Resources
Teo Nie Ching (2019).jpg Teo Nie Ching Deputy Minister of Communications and DigitalDeputy Minister of Communications
Wilson Ugak Kumbong Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Sabah and Sarawak Affairs & Special Duties)Deputy Minister of Digital
Wong Kah Woh Backbench MPDeputy Minister of Education
Zulkifli Hasan None Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Religious Affairs)

Reaction

Notes

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