PUTRAJAYA: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim says the decision to appoint Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani and Datuk Seri Amir Hamzah Azizan to perform the duties and functions of the Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Minister and Economy Minister respectively is not due to a lack of suitable candidates within the government.
He said the government is not short of replacement candidates and that permanent appointments must be made in accordance with the Federal Constitution.
"There is no need to rush. Some people are saying that the government does not have (credible) candidates to appoint, so it has to rely on acting ministers. That's not true.
"They (Amir Hamzah and Johari) are simply covering these roles until new appointments are made. It's unfortunate when Opposition MPs can't understand that," he told reporters after performing Friday prayers at Surau Ar-Rahim here on Friday (July 11).
Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Shamsul Azri Abu Bakar, who also serves as Cabinet secretary, announced on Friday that Johari had been entrusted with the responsibilities and functions of the natural resources and environmental sustainability minister effective immediately. The appointment was conveyed during the Cabinet meeting on July 9.
On May 28, Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad announced his resignation as natural resources and environmental sustainability minister, effective July 4.
Meanwhile, on June 27, Shamsul Azri announced that Amir Hamzah would assume the duties and functions of the Economy Minister, effective immediately, following Datuk Seri Rafizi Ramli's resignation effective June 17.
Rafizi and Nik Nazmi resigned after failing to retain their positions as PKR deputy president and vice president, respectively, in the party elections in May. – Bernama
