First Cabinet meeting with fresh faces

PUTRAJAYA: Datuk Seri Amir Hamzah Azizan and Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani were among the fresh faces as the unity government’s new Cabinet got down to work yesterday at its first meeting.

The 9.30am meeting was chaired by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and took place at the Putra Perdana building next to the Prime Minister’s Department here.

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Amir Hamzah was appointed Second Finance Minister and Johari was made Plantation and Commodities Minister in a shakeup that the Prime Minister said was tailored towards better meeting the economic challenges next year.

Also rejoining the Cabinet were Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad as Health Minister and Gobind Singh Deo as Digital Minister.

Also attending the Cabinet meeting for the first time was Human Resources Minister Steven Sim, who was previously a deputy finance minister.

Aside from the new appointments, the Prime Minister on Tuesday announced re-assignments of several ministers and deputy ministers in a move to strengthen his Cabinet.

Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof, who held the Plantation and Commodities portfolio, now helms the newly set up Energy Transition and Public Utilities Ministry.

Fadillah did not attend the Cabinet meeting as he is performing his umrah.Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi remains in the Rural and Regional Development portfolio.