Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said today three more ministers will be appointed to bring the number of Cabinet ministers to 29.
The three ministers could only be appointed after the individuals had been sworn in as senators, he said, indicating that they might not be politicians but professionals.
“We will have (a total of) 29 ministers. We have 26 now, there are three more to go,” he said when approached by reporters after the swearing in of 13 more ministers and 23 deputy ministers before the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Sultan Muhammad V, at Istana Negara today (July 2).
Thirteen ministers, led by Deputy Prime Minister and Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail had been sworn in last month.
“So long as they are not sworn in as senators, they cannot be appointed as ministers,” said Dr Mahathir.
The first meeting of the first session of the 14th Parliament is scheduled to convene from July 16 to Aug 16.
Dr Mahathir said he would have a meeting with the ministers and deputies who were sworn in today to explain to them their roles and responsibilities.
Should the current cabinet have only 29 members eventually, it will be a reduction from the 35-member line-up in the previous cabinet.
There were nine ministers in the prime minister’s department in the previous cabinet while the present eventually will have three – for religion, law and national unity.
The new administration also appears to have merged the previous “science, technology and innovation” ministry with the “energy, green technology and water” ministry.
Dr Mahathir’s three newly established ministries are economy, entrepreneurial development and primary industries.
One of the three ministers yet to be appointed would be in the Prime Minister’s Department in charge of Unity and Social Harmony.
Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia’s Dr Md Farid Md Rafik was sworn in today as the Deputy Minister.
Still missing are also deputies for Defence Minister Mohamad Sabu, Economic Affairs Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali and Foreign Affairs Minister Datuk Saifuddin Abdullah.
These could be positions reserved for those who will be appointed as senators.
It is widely speculated that Amanah vice-president Husam Musa and DAP political education director Liew Chin Tong would be appointed as deputy ministers.
Asked about the appointment of the new Chief Justice to succeed Tun Md Raus Sharif, the Dr Mahathir said an announcement would be made after Raus completes his service at the end of this month.
The government has a candidate but the announcement could not be made right now, he said.
“He (Md Raus) is on leave now. He will go on optional retirement at the end of this month. Then we can announce his successor,” he said.