Mahathir inducts five new faces into cabinet
Mahathir inducts five new faces into cabinet
KUALA LUMPUR (Agencies): Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir
Mohamad yesterday announced five appointments to his new cabinet
but left key ministerial positions unchanged.
Mahathir appointed new ministers to the youth and sports,
national unity and health ministries and the newly created
Entrepreneur Development Ministry as well as a minister to the
prime minister's department, but left the finance, trade and
industry, information and home ministries unchanged.
The new ministers are Abdul Hamid Othman, minister in the
prime minister's office; Muhyiddin Yassin, youth and sports
minister; Chua Jui Meng, health minister; Zaleha Ismail, national
unity minister, and Mustapha Mohamed, entrepreneur development
minister.
Mahathir also reshuffled several cabinet postings. Energy,
Posts and Telecommunications Minister Samy Vellu is now minister
of works while Leo Moggie, the former works minister, assumes
Samy Vellu's portfolio.
Defense Minister Najib Tun Razak has been shifted to the
Education Ministry and his old job has been taken over by former
law minister Syed Hamid Albar.
Former education minister Sulaiman Daud is now agriculture
minister, taking over from Sanusi Junid who vacated his
parliamentary post for a state seat.
The Law Ministry portfolio will now be handled by Abang Abu
Bakar Mustapha.
Mahathir won a resounding victory in Malaysia's April 24-25
general elections. His ruling National Front coalition took 162
of the 192 parliamentary seats and 10 of the 11 state
legislatures contested.
The coalition polled more than 64 percent of the popular vote
against just over 53 percent in the 1990 elections. The electoral
victory was seen by analysts as a strong mandate for Mahathir and
his economic program from the electorate.
Malaysia's new cabinet announced by Prime Minister Mahathir
Mohamad yesterday:
Prime Minister and minister for home affairs: Mahathir
Mohamad
Deputy prime minister and minister of finance: Anwar Ibrahim
Minister in the prime minister's office: Abang Abu Bakar
Mustapha
Minister in the prime minister's office: Abdul Hamid Othman
Transport: Ling Liong Sik
Energy, telecommunications and post: Leo Moggie
Primary industries: Lim Keng Yaik
Works: Samy Vellu Sangalimuthu
International trade and industry: Rafidah Aziz
Domestic trade and consumer affairs: Abu Hassan Omar
Agriculture: Sulaiman Daud
Education: Najib Tun Razak
Foreign affairs: Abdullah Badawi
Health: Chua Jui Meng
Defense: Syed Hamid Albar
Information: Mohamed Rahmat
Culture, arts and tourism: Sabbaruddin Chik
National unity and community development: Zaleha Ismail
Entrepreneurial development: Mustapa Mohamed
Rural development: Annuar Musa
Human resources: Lim Ah Lek
Science, technology and the environment: Law Hieng Ding
Housing and local government: Ting Chew Peh
Land and cooperative development: Osu Sukam
Youth and sports: Muhyiddin Yassin