Senators galore, more deputy ministers on the cards?

KUALA LUMPUR: Four senators have been sworn in, in preparation for their appointment as ministers or deputy ministers by 5pm this evening (July 17) at Istana Negara.

The four are DAP's Liew Chin Tong, Terengganu Amanah chief Datuk Raja Kamarul Bahrin Shah Raja Ahmad, Hindraf's P. Waytha Moorthy, and Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Pribumi)'s Dr Mohd Radzi Md Jidin.

A source familiar with the matter told The Star that Liew will be appointed as a deputy minister.

However, Liew, when quizzed over the matter, declined to elaborate further.

"It's okay, I have to go to the Palace now," he told reporters at the Parliament lobby on Tuesday (July 17).

According to Liew, Pakatan Harapan's appointed senators will enter the Dewan Negara now as a minority, as Barisan Nasional still holds a majority of the senator seats.

A total of eight new Senators were sworn in at 2pm at the Dewan Negara on Tuesday.

On July 2, Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said that three more ministers would be appointed after they have been sworn in as senators.

The posts currently vacant are Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (National Unity and Social Well-being), and the deputies at the Defence Ministry, the Foreign Ministry, the Economic Affairs Ministry, and the Housing and Local Government Ministry.