Seventh Mahathir cabinet

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

Full members

The federal cabinet consisted of the following ministers:

  PKR (7)  DAP (6)  BERSATU (6)  AMANAH (5)  WARISAN (3)  MAP (1)

Deputy Ministers

  PKR (7)  DAP (7)  BERSATU (6)  AMANAH (5)  WARISAN (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

1. "Mahathir sworn in as Malaysia's 7th Prime Minister". The Straits Times. 10 May 2018. Retrieved 11 May 2018.
2. "PM Mahathir: Pakatan Harapan government to form 10-ministry Cabinet first". The Edge Markets. 11 May 2018. Retrieved 11 May 2018.
3. "Mahathir names core ministries, ministers to follow". Free Malaysia Today. 11 May 2018. Retrieved 11 May 2018.
4. "Full Cabinet announcement to be made next week | Malay Mail". www.malaymail.com. Retrieved 6 June 2018.
5. Othman, Manirah; Ahmad, Mohd. Hafizi (2 July 2018). "13 Menteri tambahan dan 23 Timbalan Menteri angkat sumpah pagi ini". Kosmo Online (in Malay). Retrieved 2 July 2018.
6. "Three more ministers to be appointed to Cabinet". 2 July 2018. Retrieved 2 July 2018.
7. "PMO confirms Dr M's resignation". The Edge Markets. Retrieved 24 February 2020.
8. "Malaysian king appoints Mahathir as interim PM after accepting his resignation". Channel News Asia. 24 February 2020. Retrieved 24 February 2020.
9. "Prime Minister accepts Maszlee's resignation effective 3 January 2020". 2 January 2020. Retrieved 2 January 2020.
10. "Tanjung Piai MP and deputy minister Dr Farid Rafik dies in Malaysia". CNA. Channel News Asia. 21 September 2019. Retrieved 24 February 2020.
11. hermesauto (12 May 2018). "Who's who in Mahathir's new Cabinet and Council of Elders". The Straits Times. Retrieved 30 July 2018.
12. Geraldine Tong (12 May 2018). "Daim, Zeti, Kuok, Hassan, Jomo named in advisory council". Malaysiakini. Archived from the original on 12 May 2018. Retrieved 12 May 2018.
13. "Tun M announces 'council of elders'". NST Online. 12 May 2018. Retrieved 12 May 2018.
14. Manirajan Ramasamy, Masriwanie Muhamading (20 August 2018). "CEP has ended its tenure, says Daim". New Straits Times. Archived from the original on 10 August 2019. Retrieved 20 August 2018.
15. "Malaysia's Council of Eminent Persons completes 100 days, to submit recommendations". Channel News Asia. 21 August 2018. Archived from the original on 20 October 2018. Retrieved 21 August 2018.
16. Manirajan Ramasamy (20 August 2018). "CEP has ended its tenure, says Daim". New Straits Times. Retrieved 30 August 2018.