Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin moved swiftly in the wake of an Umno meeting tonight, appointing a new deputy PM and a new Senior Minister.
Defence Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob is now his deputy with immediate effect. The minister keeps his Defence Ministry portfolio.
“This appointment will help the prime minister manage the country and fulfill the people’s needs in a situation where the country is facing a health and economic crisis,” a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office says.
Foreign Minister Hishammuddin Hussein is promoted to senior minister and will take over Ismail’s security portfolio.
Hishammuddin will also assist the PM in the execution of the National Recovery Plan.
“Both appointments have been presented to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, and effective immediately.
“It is hoped that with these appointments, it would enhance the capability of the Perikatan Nasional government especially in handling the Covid-19 pandemic, strengthen the unity between parties that form the government, and solidify the PN government with transparency in administration, free of corruption and with integrity.
“The Prime Minister’s Office would like to extend our congratulations to both Ismail Sabri and Hishammuddin for their appointments,” the PMO statement says.
Both ministers come from Umno, a party that is still debating whether it should remain in the governing coalition.
