KUCHING: Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) has requested to have at least four of its Members of Parliament to be appointed to the 10th Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s Cabinet line-up.
Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg said a total of four GPS MPs were included in the previous Cabinet line-up, under the former Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob.
“Last time we had four full ministers in the federal cabinet, including the former Santubong MP Datuk Seri Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar. So, we hope to maintain the number.
“Yes, we have requested to have four… But, I don’t know who as I am not the prime minister,” he told the reporters at the Sarawak Legislative Assembly (DUN) complex here today.
When asked if it would be possible for GPS to have four full ministers plus one deputy prime minister, Abang Johari said, he had no idea as well.
“Let just wait for the announcement… I don’t know who and I don’t know when (is the announcement),” he said, while declining to comment further.
According to New Straits Times, Anwar’s ‘leaner’ cabinet lineup with ‘reduced salaries’ is expected to be announced by the end of the week, before the King departs for an official visit abroad on Saturday.
A source close to Anwar’s camp said this was following the latter’s audience with Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah on Tuesday.
It was learnt that the prime minister’s audience with the King was to present the cabinet lineup to form the federal government as soon as possible before the King departs for an official visit abroad on Saturday.
Previously, a total of four GPS MPs were appointed as full ministers in Sabri’s cabinet line-up, including Wan Junaidi as Minister in charge of Parliament and Law, Petra Jaya MP Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof as the Works minister while Kapit MP Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi and Santubong MP Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri held portfolios of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs and Tourism, Arts and Culture, respectively.
Apart from that, there were also four deputy ministers from GPS; namely Mukah MP Datuk Hanifah Taib (Deputy minister in the Prime Minister’s Department in charge of Sabah and Sarawak Affairs), Lawas MP Datuk Henry Sum Agong (Deputy Transport Minister), Kanowit MP Datuk Aaron Ago Dagang (Deputy Health Minister) while Limbang MP Datuk Hasbi Habibollah (Deputy Rural Development Minister).
