Malaysia's Mahathir resigns but is asked to stay as interim PM
Prime minister's move follows a weekend of political turmoil amid bid by his party to form new government without Anwar.
Malaysia's Prime Minister has also reportedly resigned from his party, Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia [File: Lim Huey Teng [Reuters]
Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad has announced his resignation but was asked to stay on as interim leader by the country's monarch.
Mahathir said in a two-line statement that he had informed the country's king of his resignation at 1pm Kuala Lumpur time (05:00 GMT) on Monday.
Mahathir also reportedly resigned from his own party,ย Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia, according toย Reuters news agency, citing three sources.ย Mahathir's party also announced that it was quitting the ruling government coalition, Pakatan Harapanย (Alliance of Hope), casting doubt on the future of the partnership.
Mahathir's decision follows a weekend of political wrangling, after it was reported on Sunday night that his party was planning to form a new government that would exclude his anointed successor, Anwar Ibrahim.
The king accepted Mahathir's resignation after meeting with him later on Monday, Chief Secretary Mohd Zuki Ali said in a statement.
"However, His Highness has given his assent to appoint Mahathir Mohamad as interim prime minister, while waiting for the appointment of the new prime minister. Hence until then, (Mahathir) will manage the country's affairs until a new prime minister and cabinet are appointed," Mohd Zuki said.
Anwar also said that Mahathir has no plans to join with anyone from the previous ruling coalition he defeated to try to form a new government.
When asked if Mahathir was responsible for the current political turmoil, Anwar blamed "those within my party and outside using his name."
"And he [Mahathir] reiterated what he had said to me earlier, he played no part in it. He made it very clear, that in no way would he work with those associated with the previous regime."
Full story at https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/02/malaysia-mahathir-turns-resignation-reports-200224054737676.html
PM Muhyiddin announces new Cabinet and new structure full list)
PETALING JAYA: Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin has announced his new Cabinet and a new structure, with plum roles for party leaders in the Perikatan Nasional coalition and their allies.
Discarding the conventional role of a deputy prime minister, he instead appointed four senior ministers who will coordinate the ministerial portfolios.
The four Senior Ministers are former PKR deputy president Datuk Seri Azmin Ali (International Trade and Industry), Umno vice president Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob (Defence), Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) chief whip Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof (Works) and Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia supreme council member Dr Mohd Radzi Md Jidin (Education).
Azmin's deputy will be MCA's Datuk Lim Ban Hong (who will be made a senator), while Ismail will have Datuk Seri Ikhmal Hisham Abdul Aziz, Fadillah's deputy is Datuk Dr Shahruddin Md Salleh and Radzi will have two deputies Datuk Dr Mah Hang Soon (who will be made a senator) and Muslimin Yahaya.
The rest of the Cabinet is as follows:
Prime Minister's Department:
Economy: Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed
Deputy: Arthur Joseph Kurup
Special Affairs: Datuk Seri Mohd Redzuan Md Yusof
Deputy: Mastura Yazid
Parliament and Laws: Datuk Takiyuddin Hassan
Deputy: Datuk Eddin Syazlee Shith
Religious Affairs: Datuk Seri Dr Hj Zulkifli Mohamad Al-Bakri (to be made a senator)
Deputy: Ahmad Marzuk Shaary
Sabah and Sarawak Affairs: Datuk Seri Panglima Dr Maximus Johnity Ongkili
Deputy: Datuk Hanifah Hajar Taib
Finance Ministry:
Minister: Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz (to be made a senator)
Deputy I: YB Datuk Abd Rahim Bakeri
Deputy II: Mohd Shahar Abdullah Menteri
Transport Ministry:
Minister: Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong
Deputy: Hasbi Habibollah
Environment Ministry:
Minister: Datuk Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man
Deputy: Datuk Dr Ahmad Masrizal Muhammad (to be made a senator)
Human Resources Ministry:
Minister: Datuk Seri M. Saravanan
Deputy: Haji Awang Hashim
Federal Territories Ministry:
Minister: Tan Sri Annuar Musa
Deputy: Datuk Seri Dr Santhara Kumar
Women and Family Ministry:
Minister: Datuk Seri Rina Harun
Deputy: Datuk Siti Zailah Mohd Yusoff
Higher Education Ministry:
Minister: Datuk Dr Noraini Ahmad
Deputy: Datuk Dr Mansor Othman
Energy and Natural Resources Ministry:
Minister: Datuk Dr Shamsul Anuar Nasarah
Deputy: Ali Anak Biju
Home Ministry:
Minister: Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainuddin
Deputy I: Datuk Seri Dr Ismail Mohamed Said
Deputy II: Jonathan Yassin
Health Ministry:
Minister: Datuk Seri Dr Adham Baba
Deputy I: Datuk Dr Noor Azmi Ghazali
Deputy II: Datuk Aaron Ago Dagang
Agriculture and Food Industry Ministry:
Minister: Datuk Seri Dr Ronald Kiandee
Deputy I: Datuk Seri Ahmad Hamzah
Deputy II: Datuk Che Abdullah Mat Nawi
Rural Development Ministry:
Minister: Datuk Dr Abd Latiff Ahmad
Deputy I: Datuk Abdul Rahman Mohamad
Deputy II: Datuk Henry Sum Agong
Foreign Ministry:
Minister: Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein
Deputy: Datuk Kamaruddin Jaffar
Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry:
Minister: Datuk Alexander Nanta Linggi
Deputy: Datuk Rosol Wahid
Communications and Multimedia Ministry:
Minister: Datuk Seri Saifuddin Abdullah
Deputy: Datuk Zahidi Zainul Abidin
Housing and Local Government Ministry:
Minister: Zuraida Kamaruddin
Deputy: Datuk Seri Ismail Abd Mutalib
Science, Technology and Innovation Ministry:
Minister: Khairy Jamaluddin
Deputy: Ahmad Amzad Hashim
Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives Ministry
Minister: Datuk Seri Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar
Deputy: Datuk Wira Mas Ermieyati Samsudin
Plantation Industries and Commodities Ministry:
Minister: Dr Mohd Khairuddin Aman Razali
Deputy I: Datuk Sri Dr Wee Jeck Seng
Deputy II: Willie Mongin
Tourism, Arts and Culture Ministry:
Minister: Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri
Deputy: Datuk Dr Jeffrey Kitingan
National Unity Ministry:
Minister: Halimah Mohamed Sadique
Deputy: Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing
Youth and Sports Ministry:
Minister: Datuk Seri Reezal Merican Naina Merican
Deputy: Wan Ahmad Fayhsal Wan Ahmad Kamal (to be made a senator)
https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2020/03/09/pm-muhyiddin-announces-new-cabinet-and-new-structure