12-12-2023 (KUALA LUMPUR) Malaysia’s Prime Minister, Anwar Ibrahim, announced a cabinet reshuffle on Tuesday (Dec 12), introducing new faces and making changes to key ministerial positions. The reshuffle saw the appointment of a new second finance minister, as well as shifts and replacements in various portfolios.
Amir Hamzah Azizan, the CEO of the Employees Provident Fund (EPF), was appointed as the second finance minister, surpassing other contenders such as UMNO veteran Johari Abdul Ghani. Anwar Ibrahim himself currently holds the position of Finance Minister. Amir, the eldest son of former Petronas chairman Azizan Zainul Abidin, was sworn in as a senator earlier in the day to assume his role in the finance ministry.
In other notable changes, UMNO deputy president Mohamad Hasan is set to become the Minister of Foreign Affairs, taking over from Dr. Zambry Abdul Kadir. Mohamad’s role as the Defense Minister will be handed over to fellow party member Khaled Nordin, who will vacate his post as the Minister of Higher Education. Dr. Zambry, in turn, will assume the role previously held by Khaled. Johari Abdul Ghani will take on the portfolio of the Plantation Industries and Commodities Ministry.
Dzulkefly Ahmad, a politician from Parti Amanah Negara (Amanah), will become the Health Minister, replacing Dr. Zaliha Mustafa. Dr. Zaliha will now lead the Federal Territories Ministry, which has been reinstated after administrative restructuring following the last general election.
These changes mark Anwar’s first reshuffle since assuming power a year ago. The reshuffle was announced on Tuesday and includes the appointment of Gabungan Rakyat Sabah politician Armizan Mohd Ali as the new Minister of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living, succeeding the late Dr. Salahuddin Ayub, who passed away in July.
Steven Sim, a Democratic Action Party (DAP) lawmaker, has been promoted from the position of Deputy Finance Minister II to Minister of Human Resources, replacing V Sivakumar, another DAP member. Sivakumar had faced calls for resignation due to corruption allegations involving his ministry’s officers.
Additionally, the Communications and Digital Ministry will be split into two, with DAP Member of Parliament Gobind Singh sharing the portfolio with Parti Keadilan Rakyat’s Fahmi Fadzil.
