Bersatu gets biggest bloc in Cabinet, Umno second

PETALING JAYA: Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) has the most number of ministers in the Cabinet, followed closely by Umno.

There are 11 Bersatu ministers, nine Umno ministers, four Gabungan Parti Sarawak ministers and three PAS ministers in the 32-member Cabinet headed by Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, who is also the president of Bersatu.

Of the 11 Bersatu ministers, three are of the former PKR MPs who defected to join Bersatu during the height of the political upheaval before Muhyiddin was announced as the Prime Minister. There is also one minister each from MCA, MIC and Parti Bersatu Sabah.

Among the portfolios held by Bersatu include two senior ministerial posts – Datuk Seri Azmin Ali (International Trade and Industry) and Mohd Radzi Jidin (Education).

Incidentally, Azmin used to be the Economic Affairs Minister while Radzi was his deputy when they were both part of the Pakatan Harapan government before it collapsed on Feb 24.

The other seven portfolios held by Bersatu ministers include the Economy and Special Functions portfolios in the PM’s Department, Women and Family, Home, Agriculture and Food Industry, Rural Development, Communications and Multimedia, as well as Housing and Local Government.

Umno, the party which now returns to power following a poor performance in the last general election after heading the Barisan Nasional government for 60 years, has been given one senior ministership – with its vice president Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob taking the portfolio of Defence.

Umno secretary-general Tan Sri Annuar Musa is appointed the Federal Territories Minister while other portfolios going to Umno include the Higher Education Ministry, Energy and Natural Resources, Health, Foreign Affairs, Science, Technology and Innovation, National Unity and Youth and Sports.