News Cuttings

Saturday, March 27, 2004

Cabinet 2004

Prime Minister's Department:

Datuk Radzi Sheikh Ahmad, Dr Maximus Ongkili, Datuk Mustapa Mohamed, Tan Sri Bernard Dompok, Datuk Seri Mohd Nazri Abdul Aziz, Dr Abdullah Mat Zin.
Deputy Ministers: Datuk M. Kayveas
Parliamentary Secretaries: Datuk Dr Mashitah Ibrahim, Datuk Johari B

Finance Ministry

Minister: Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi
Second Minister: Tan Sri Nor Mohamed Yakcop
Deputy Minister: Datuk Ng Yen Yen, Tengku Datuk Putra Tengku Awang
Parliamentary Secretary: Datuk Dr Hilmi Yahaya

Internal Security Ministry

Minister: Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi
Deputy Minister: Datuk Noh Omar, Chia Kwang Chye
Parliamentary Secretary: Datuk Wira Abdul Samad bin Haji Yusof

Defence Ministry

Minister: Datuk Seri Najib Tun Abdul Razak
Deputy Minister: Datuk Zainal Abidin

Home Affairs Ministry

Minister: Datuk Azmi Khalid
Deputy Minister: Datuk Tan Chai Ho
Parliamentary Secretary: Datuk Paduka Rahman Ibrahim

International Trade and Industry Ministry

Minister: Datuk Seri Rafidah Aziz
Deputy Minister: Datuk Husni Hanadzlah, Mah Siew Keong
Parliamentary Secretary: Datin Paduka Dr Tan Yee Kew

Education Ministry

Minister: Datuk Hishammuddin Hussein
Deputy Minister: Datuk Hon Choon Kim, Datuk Dr Mahadzir Mohd Khir
Parliamentary Secretary: P. Komala Devi

Higher Education Ministry

Minister: Datuk Dr Mohd Shafie Mohd Salleh
Deputy Minister: Datuk Fu Ah Kiow
Parliamentary Secretary: Datuk Dr Adham Baba

Entrepreneurial and Cooperative Development Ministry

Minister: Datuk Khaled Nordin
Deputy Minister: Datuk Khamsyiah Yeop
Parliamentary Secretary: Shamsul Baharun Abdul Rahman

Housing and Local Government Ministry

Minister: Datuk Seri Ong Ka Ting
Deputy Minister: Datuk Azizah Mohd Dom
Parliamentary Secretary: Dr S. Subramaniam

Energy, Water and Telecommunications Ministry

Minister: Datuk Dr Lim Keng Yaik
Deputy Minister: Datuk Shaziman Abu Mansor

Information Ministry

Minister: Datuk Paduka Abdul Kadir Sheikh Fadzir
Deputy Minister: Datuk Zainuddin Maidin, Datuk Donald Lim Siang Chai
Parliamentary Secretary: Noriah Kasnon

Foreign Ministry

Minister: Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar
Deputy Minister: Joseph Salang Gandum
Parliamentary Secretary: Datuk Zainal Abidin Osman

Transport Ministry

Minister: Datuk Seri Chan Kong Choy
Deputy Minister: Tengku Datuk Seri Azlan Abu Bakar, Datuk Douglas Unggah Embas

Human Resource Ministry

Minister: Datuk Dr Fong Chan Onn
Deputy Minister: Datuk Abdul Rahman Bakar

Works Ministry

Minister: Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu
Deputy Minister: Datuk Mohd Zain Mohamad
Parliamentary Secretary: Yong Khoon Seng

Natural Resources and Environment Ministry

Minister: Datuk Seri Adnan Satem
Deputy Minister: S. Sothinathan
Parliamentary Secretary: Sazmi Miah

Agriculture and Agro-Based Industry Ministry

Minister: Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin
Deputy Minister: Datuk Shariff Omar, Datuk Kerk Choo Ting
Parliamentary Secretary: Datuk Rohani Abdul Karim

Science and Technology Ministry

Minister: Datuk Dr Jamaluddin Jarjis
Deputy Minister: Kong Cho Ha
Parliamentary Secretary: Prof Datuk Dr Mohd Ruddin Ab Ghani

Arts, Culture and Heritage Ministry

Minister: Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim
Deputy Minister: Wong Kam Hoong

Women, Family and Community Development Ministry

Minister: Datuk Shahrizat Jalil
Deputy Minister: G. Palanivel
Parliamentary Secretary: Chew Mei Fun

Rural and Territory Development Ministry

Minister: Datuk Abdul Aziz Shamsuddin
Deputy Minister: Datuk Dr Awang Adek Husin, Datuk Dr Tekhee @ Tiki Lafe

Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry

Minister: Datuk Shafie Apdal
Deputy Minister: Datuk S. Veerasingam
Parliamentary Secretary Hoo Seong Chang

Plantation Industries and Commodities Ministry

Minister: Datuk Peter Chin Fah Kui
Deputy Minister: Datuk Anifah Aman
Parliamentary Secretary: Ng Lip Yong

Youth and Sports Ministry

Minister: Datuk Azalina Othman
Deputy Minister: Datuk Ong Tee Kiat
Parliamentary Secretary: S. Vigneswaran

Health Ministry

Minister: Datuk Dr Chua Soi Lek
Deputy Minister: Datuk Dr Abdul Latiff Ahmad
Parliamentary Secretary: Lee Kah Choon

Federal Territory Ministry

Minister: Tan Sri Isa Samad
Deputy Minister: Datuk Zulhasnan Rafique

Tourism Ministry

Minister: Datuk Leo Michael Toyad
Deputy Minister: Ahmad Zahidi Hamidi

Abdullah Introduces New Faces, Sweeping Changes To Cabinet

Bernama.com
Malaysian National News Agency
General
March 27, 2004 14:20 PM

PUTRAJAYA, March 27 (Bernama) -- Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi on Saturday announced sweeping changes to the cabinet which saw the splitting up of three ministries and the introduction of fresh faces, aimed at enhancing the government machinery and fulfilling Barisan Nasional's election promises.

The Prime Minister retained his portfolios as Finance Minister and also took up the post of Minister of Internal Security, a branch of the now-divided Home Ministry.

His deputy, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, also retained his Defence portfolio.

Five ministries have also been renamed.

Speaking at a packed news conference at the Prime Minister's Office here, Abdullah said: "This is a major revamp in the administration aimed at improving services to the people."

Besides splitting three ministries, Abdullah also abolished the Ministry of Land and Cooperation Development and set up two ministries -- Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment; and Ministry of Federal Territories.

The Home Ministry has been split into the Home Affairs Ministry and the Internal Security Ministry while the Education Ministry has been split into the Education Ministry and the Higher Education Ministry.

The Culture, Arts and Tourism Ministry has been split into the Ministry of Arts, Culture and Heritage; and the Tourism Ministry.

The National Unity and Social Development Ministry and the Women and Family Development Ministry have been merged and named the Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development.

The Ministry of Rural Development has been renamed as the Ministry of Rural and Regional Development; the Ministry of Primary Industries as the Ministry of Plantation Industries and Commodities; and the Ministry of Science, Technology and Environment as the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovations.

The Ministry of Agriculture is now known as the Ministry of Agriculture and Agro-Based Industry while the Ministry of Energy, Communications and Multimedia is now known as the Ministry of Energy, Water and Communications.

Among the new faces in the cabinet line-up are Datuk Mustapa Mohamed, Datuk Seri Mohamed Radzi Sheikh Ahmad, Prof Datuk Dr Abdullah Mohamed Zin and Datuk Dr Maximus alias Johnity Ongkili, who have all been appointed as Minister in the Prime Minister's Department.

The other new faces are Datuk Seri Adenan Satem (Minister of Natural Resources and Environment), Datuk Azalina Othman (Minister of Youth and Sports) and Datuk Dr Chua Soi Lek (Minister of Health).

Meanwhile, the deputy ministers who have been promoted are Datuk Mohamed Khaled Nordin (Minister of Entrepreneurial and Cooperative Development), Datuk Dr Mohamed Shafie Salleh (Minister of Higher Education) and Datuk Peter Chin Fah Kui (Minister of Plantation Industries and Commodities).

Others are Datuk Shafie Apdal (Minister of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs) and Datuk Abdul Aziz Samsudin (Minister of Rural and Regional Development).

Those promoted includes Datuk Leo Michael Toyad who has been appointed Minister of Tourism.

Meanwhile, portfolios have been switched among several ministers including Datuk Seri Mohamad Nazri Aziz who is now Minister in the Prime Minister's Department, Datuk Azmi Khalid (Minister of Home Affairs), Datuk Hishammuddin Tun Hussein (Minister of Education) and Datuk Seri Dr Lim Keng Yaik (Minister of Energy, Water and Communications).

Others are Datuk Abdul Kadir Sheikh Fadzir (Minister of Information), Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim (Minister of Arts, Culture and Heritage) and Datuk Dr Jamaluddin Jarjis (Minister of Science, Technology and Innovations).

Among the leaders who maintained their old portfolios are MIC president Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu (Works Minister), Wanita Umno chief Datuk Seri Rafidah Aziz (International Trade and Industry Minister), MCA president Datuk Ong Ka Ting (Housing and Local Government Minister) and Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar (Foreign Minister).

Others who get back their old job are MCA vice-president Datuk Fong Chan Onn (Human Resource Minister), MCA deputy president Datuk Chan Kong Choy (Transport Minister) and Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil (who now heads the Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development).

Making a comeback to the federal government is former Negeri Sembilan Menteri Besar Tan Sri Mohamed Isa Abdul Samad who now heads the new Federal Territories Ministry.

The Barisan Nasional (BN) returned to power on the back of popular support for Abdullah's commitment to, among others, make life better for Malaysia's 23 million people, wipe out corruption, improve the public delivery system, enhance transparency in giving out government contracts and, more importantly, his moderate approach of Islam.

The eagerly-awaited announcement capped the BN's thumping victory in the March 21 general election which saw the 14-member coalition winning 198 of 219 parliamentary seats, snatching Terengganu from the claws of PAS and coming close to bringing back Kelantan into the BN fold.

Although the country was abuzz with speculations over who was in and who was out, Abdullah kept things close to his chest and even reportedly spent some time in Pangkor island to ponder on his cabinet list.

Abdullah Drops Several Ministers Including Chua, Siti Zaharah

Bernama.com
Malaysian National News Agency
General
March 27, 2004 17:28 PM

PUTRAJAYA, March 27 (Bernama) -- Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi Saturday dropped several old faces including Datuk Chua Jui Meng and Datuk Dr Siti Zaharah Sulaiman who were Health Minister and National Unity and Social Development Minister respectively from his new cabinet line-up.

Also dropped were Science, Technology and Environment Minister Datuk Seri Law Hieng Ding as well as Datuk Seri Abdul Hamid Zainal Abidin and Datuk Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor, who were both Ministers in the Prime Minister's Department.

Commenting on the matter, Abdullah said that he wanted to provide an opportunity for new faces to serve in the cabinet.

"Those not picked and not included in the cabinet, it is not because of anything to do with crime or relating to corruption...nothing like that," he said in his news conference to announce the list of cabinet ministers and members of his administration, which was telecast live over RTM and TV3.

In an immediate reaction to his exclusion from the new cabinet, Tengku Adnan said that he accepted Abdullah's decision and pledged continuous support to the government.

Three ministers in the previous government chose not to contest in the March 21 general election.

They were Tan Sri Khalil Yaakob who held the Information portfolio, Datuk Amar Leo Moggie (Energy, Communications and Multimedia) and Datuk Seri Mohamed Effendi Norwawi (Special Functions).

Tan Sri Musa Mohamad (Education) resigned effective last Monday.

Another, Tan Sri Kasitah Gaddam, resigned as Land and Cooperative Minister last month following graft charges brought against him.

-- BERNAMA