Two new ministers take up posts

Sat, 18 May 2002 | Source: AP

BRUNEI: The Royal Ruler of Brunei shuffled his Cabinet on Friday, naming new ministers in the health and development portfolios.

Ahmad bin Jumat was the tiny sultanate's new minister of development and Abu Bakar the health minister, the government said in a statement.

Ahmad has been acting development minister since the surprise dismissal of Pengiran Ismail one year ago. No reasons were given for Pengiran's firing. The health minister's post had been vacant for several months.

The appointments are not expected to have a major bearing on the running of Brunei's government, which is tightly controlled by Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, who is also prime minister, finance minister and defense minister. Members of the royal family hold many other key government posts. --AP

View JSON | Print