PETALING JAYA: It was a historical swearing-in ceremony as ministers in the unity government decreed by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong took their oath of office.
They stood side by side as they declared their oath of office, loyalty and secrecy in front of Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah at Istana Negara yesterday.
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The 28-member Cabinet will see power-sharing among Pakatan Harapan, Barisan Nasional, Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) and Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS).
The ceremony held at the Balairung Seri Istana Negara (throne room) began at around 3pm with the singing of the national anthem.
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The King, who wore a cerulean blue baju Melayu, and Raja Permaisuri Agong Tunku Hajah Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah, who looked resplendent in a royal blue baju kurung, walked into the room holding hands before taking their seats and witnessing the ceremony.
Also present were Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and his wife Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail.
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The swearing-in was done in six groups, beginning with the two newly-minted deputy prime ministers, Barisan chairman Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof of GPS.
Ahmad Zahid will also hold the Rural and Regional Development portfolio while Fadillah will be the Plantations and Commodities Minister.
The next group comprised Anthony Loke, who will return to the Transport Ministry where he was in charge when Pakatan was in power between 2018 and 2020; Mohamad Sabu, the former defence minister under Pakatan who will now be in charge of the Agriculture and Food Security portfolio; Rafizi Ramli (Economy); Nga Kor Ming (Local Government Development); and Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan (Defence).
They were followed by the third group comprising Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi (Works), PKR secretary-general Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail (Home Ministry), Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz (International Trade and Industry), Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin (Higher Education) and Chang Lih Kang (Science and Technology).
The fourth group consisted of Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri (Women, Family and Community Development), Datuk Seri Salahuddin Ayub (Domestic Trade and Cost of Living), Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said (Law and Institutional Reforms), Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad (Natural Resources and Climate Change) and Datuk Ewon Benedick (Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives).
The fifth group was made up of Datuk Seri Zambry Abdul Kadir (Foreign), Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing (Tourism), Fahmi Fadzil (Digital Communications), Fadhlina Sidek (Education) and Datuk Aaron Ago Dagang (Unity).
In the last group were Datuk Dr Mohd Na’im Mokhtar (Religious Affairs), Hannah Yeoh (Youth and Sports), Sivakumar Varatharaju Naidu (Human Resource), Dr Zaliha Mustafa (Health) and Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Sabah and Sarawak Affairs) Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali.
After taking their oaths, the ministers signed the official instrument of appointment witnessed by Chief Justice Tun Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat and Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Mohd Zuki Ali.
Anwar announced the members of the Cabinet on Friday.
The deputies will be named at a later date, he said.
Saifuddin, Tengku Zafrul, Zambry and Mohd Na’im were sworn in as senators yesterday morning before they took their oath as ministers.
Anwar, who will also serve as Finance Minister, was sworn in as Prime Minister on Nov 24.
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