Seventh Mahathir cabinet explained
Dr. Mahathir Mohamad, being the Prime Minister of Malaysia for the second time on 10 May 2018,[1] formed the seventh Mahathir cabinet after being invited by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Sultan Muhammad V to form a new government. It was the 20th cabinet of Malaysia formed since independence. Initially, he announced that the Cabinet will be composed of 10 key ministries only[2] representing Pakatan Harapan parties, i.e. Malaysian United Indigenous Party (BERSATU), People's Justice Party (PKR), Democratic Action Party (DAP) and National Trust Party (AMANAH), as he suggested "to being a small Cabinet" rather than to have "a huge Cabinet".[3] Then, on 21 May 2018, that list has expanded by 13 ministries.[4] On 2 July 2018, 13 Ministers and 23 Deputy Ministers took office.[5] It was a cabinet of 28 ministers[6] until their fall on 24 February 2020 following Mahathir's resignation.[7]
Composition
See main article: Mahathir Mohamad's Second Term (2018-2020).
Full members
The federal cabinet consisted of the following ministers:
(7) (6) (6) (5) (3) MAP (1)
Deputy Ministers
(7) (7) (6) (5) (2)
Council of Eminent Persons (CEP)
In addition to the Cabinet, Mahathir established a five-members advisory team called "Council of Eminent Persons" or "Council of Elders" (Malay: Majlis Penasihat Kerajaan, literally Government Advisory Council), led by Daim Zainuddin as the council chairman.[11] [12] The purpose of this council is to advise the Government on matters pertaining to economic and financial matters during the transition of power period.[13] Daim declared the council which had held its final meeting on 17 August 2018, has ended its 100-day term as it has fulfilled the mandate given to it within the specified period.[14] [15] [16]
Changes
Under this Cabinet:
- A new Ministry of Economic Affairs was established as a result of separation of economic affairs portfolio from the Prime Minister's Department.
- Ministry of Domestic Trade, Co-operatives and Consumerism was reinstated to its old name, Ministry of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs.
- Ministry of Energy, Green Technology and Water, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation formed in the previous Cabinet, were merged into two new ministries, namely Ministry of Energy, Science, Technology, Environment and Climate Change and Ministry of Water, Land and Natural Resources.
- Ministry of Entrepreneur Development was reinstated as a result of transfer of such function from the Ministry of International Trade and Industry and the then-Ministry of Domestic Affairs, Co-operatives and Consumerism.
- Ministries of Education and Higher Education were merged. A single Ministry of Education is reinstated.
- Ministry of Plantation Industries and Commodities was renamed as Ministry of Primary Industries.
- Ministry of Rural and Regional Development was reinstated to its old name, Ministry of Rural Development.
- Ministry of Tourism and Culture was renamed as Ministry of Tourism, Art and Culture.
References
- News: Mahathir sworn in as Malaysia's 7th Prime Minister. 10 May 2018. The Straits Times. 11 May 2018.
- News: PM Mahathir: Pakatan Harapan government to form 10-ministry Cabinet first. 11 May 2018. The Edge Markets. 11 May 2018.
- News: Mahathir names core ministries, ministers to follow. 11 May 2018. Free Malaysia Today. 11 May 2018. en-US.
- Web site: Full Cabinet announcement to be made next week Malay Mail. www.malaymail.com. en. 6 June 2018.
- News: 13 Menteri tambahan dan 23 Timbalan Menteri angkat sumpah pagi ini. Othman. Manirah. 2 July 2018. Kosmo Online. 2 July 2018. Ahmad. Mohd. Hafizi. ms-my.
- Web site: Three more ministers to be appointed to Cabinet . 2 July 2018 . 2 July 2018.
- News: PMO confirms Dr M's resignation . 24 February 2020 . The Edge Markets.
- News: Malaysian king appoints Mahathir as interim PM after accepting his resignation . 24 February 2020 . Channel News Asia . 24 February 2020 . en.
- Web site: Prime Minister accepts Maszlee's resignation effective 3 January 2020 . 2 January 2020 . 2 January 2020.
- News: Tanjung Piai MP and deputy minister Dr Farid Rafik dies in Malaysia . 24 February 2020 . CNA . Channel News Asia . 21 September 2019 . en.
- News: hermesauto. 12 May 2018. Who's who in Mahathir's new Cabinet and Council of Elders. The Straits Times. 30 July 2018.
- News: Daim, Zeti, Kuok, Hassan, Jomo named in advisory council. 12 May 2018. Geraldine Tong. Malaysiakini. 12 May 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180512181938/https://www.malaysiakini.com/news/424473. 12 May 2018. live.
- News: Tun M announces 'council of elders'. 12 May 2018. NST Online. 12 May 2018.
- News: CEP has ended its tenure, says Daim. August 20, 2018. Manirajan Ramasamy, Masriwanie Muhamading. New Straits Times. August 20, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20190810224239/https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2018/08/403488/cep-has-ended-its-tenure-says-daim. 10 August 2019. live.
- News: Malaysia's Council of Eminent Persons completes 100 days, to submit recommendations. August 21, 2018. Channel News Asia. August 21, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20181020215941/https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/asia/malaysia-s-council-of-eminent-persons-completes-100-days-to-10636614. 20 October 2018. live.
- News: Manirajan Ramasamy. 20 August 2018. CEP has ended its tenure, says Daim. New Straits Times. 30 August 2018.
