Sin Chew Daily : Bye Bye 30%
Farewell, 30%!
Posted by admin
Tuesday, 28 April 2009 21:50
Without this "30%," perhaps Malaysian companies could emerge more energetic, the ecomomy could grow faster, the Malays could be more competitive, and non-Malays could be less dejected and unsatisfied.
By TAY TIAN YAN/Translated by CHONG CIEW JU/Sin Chew Daily
Don't know since when Malaysia has become a country of "30%."
To set up a company, we must have 30% bumiputra equity; to list a company on the stock market, we must have 30% bumiputra equity; and to bid for a government project, we also must have 30% bumiputra equity.
All these are done in the name of the New Economic Policy (NEP).
Having said that, "reserved 30% bumiputra equity" has never actually been gazetted in the 1971 New Economic Policy.
The objectives of the NEP were: to eliminate poverty regardless of race; and to restructure the society and do away with the identification of race according to economic activity.
There is no problem with the policy itself, and the guiding principle is absolutely correct.
But, in the executive orders that follow, the very crude '30%" has been universally employed to achieve the targets of NEP.
Government officials hold dearly to the "30%" to slice up the economy. They pick up their parangs, axes and electric saws and chop up the companies into pieces.
Politicians and those with good relations with the government are fast grabbing this "30%" bounty. Without having to put in the slightest effort or making any real contribution at all, they unashamedly share the 30% benefits.
"Without the bondage of this "30%," Malaysia could absolutely be a more united, harmonious and progressive country."
As such, many companies which are vibrant, innovative and with great prospects are either nibbed in the bud or left struggling for mere survival.
In order to achieve the 30% target, the country has paid a hefty price over the past few decades.
Many local and foreign investors would rather dump their money elsewhere than to have their 30% plundered. Many companies choose not to expand their businesses lest they are put into the restructuring list, while others have to reluctantly swallow the 30% equity arrangement, making compromises in their company equity, management and vibrancy.
The majority of the Malay community has not really benefited from the 30% bumiputra equity policy, which benifits only a handful of privileged individuals, allowing these privileged few to take the lion's share of the benefits. This has further widened the gap between the haves and haves-not within the Malay community itself while creating entrenched class confrontation.
Without this "30%," perhaps Malaysian companies could emerge more energetic, the ecomomy could grow faster, the Malays could be more competitive, and non-Malays could be less dejected and unsatisfied.
Without the bondage of this "30%," Malaysia could absolutely be a more united, harmonious and progressive country.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak has started to lift this bondage which has enslaved Malaysians for nearly four decades, allowing Malaysians to feel instantly invigorated and relieved.
But to be truly emancipated, more "30%" needs to be lifted. Besides, we must also keep an eye on non-compliance in our bureaucratic system as well as backlash from the vested interests.
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Monday, April 20, 2009
Father tries to cash in on daughter's fame
Father tries to cash in on daughter's fame
By Mazher Mahmood, 19/04/2009
THE poverty-stricken father of Slumdog Millionaire child star Rubina Ali plans to become a millionaire himself-by SELLING his nine-year-old daughter.
In a bid to escape India's real-life slums, Rafiq Qureshi put angel-faced darling of the Oscars Rubina up for adoption, demanding millions of rupees worth £200,000.
As he offered the shocking deal to the News of the World's undercover fake sheik this week, Rafiq declared: "I have to consider what's best for me, my family and Rubina's future."
Rafiq tried to blame Hollywood bosses for forcing him to put his daughter up for SALE.
As he tried to fix the illegal adoption deal, real-life slum dweller Rafiq declared: "We've got nothing out of this film."
Then, almost embarrassed to speak it out loud, he whispered to an accomplice the price tag he has put on his innocent young daughter: "It's £200,000!"
That was an astonishing FOURFOLD increase on his opening demand. But Rafiq's equally demanding brother Mohiuddin insisted: "The child is special now. This is NOT an ordinary child. This is an Oscar child!"
BUY MY DAUGHTER: Father Rafiq (centre) and uncle Rajan More (left) pose with Rubina and our undercover team
Dad Rafiq is desperate to cash in on their nine-year-old's success in the blockbuster film by selling her to the highest bidder
He sees it as his family's escape route from the notorious Bandra slum sprawl of Mumbai.
Rafiq revealed his scheme to undercover News of the World reporters posing as a wealthy family from Dubai.
Slumdog Millionaire star Rubina Ali's dad puts his daughter up for sale
Riches
We travelled to Mumbai to expose the illegal sale after a tip-off from a concerned close family friend and former neighbour.
Shockingly, this sort of transaction is far from unusual in an impoverished nation where human life comes cheap and children are often treated as a commodity.
Rubina won the hearts of film-lovers around the world playing young Latika in British director Danny Boyle's movie that picked up eight Oscars and a pile of other glittering awards. It tells the rags to riches story of a young man from the slums who wins the Indian version of Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?
Filmed in Mumbai's seething pauper ghetto it depicts starkly true scenes of poverty and child cruelty, where young orphans are blinded and crippled by Fagin-like thugs and forced to beg on the streets. And with a staggering 11 million children abandoned in India every year, there is no shortage of young prey.
Our informant, now a city tour guide, told us: "Rubina's family are furious that despite the film doing so well and their pretty daughter becoming so famous, they are still living in such rough conditions.
"They were approached by one wealthy Middle Eastern family who saw their plight in an item on Al Jazeera TV. The couple expressed an interest in adopting young Rubina and her parents' eyes lit up.
"Dad Rafiq is streetwise and knows that soon his daughter's success will be forgotten and her moment of fame will be over. He has a family to feed and simply can't afford it. He is keen to find a rich family to bring up Rubina but only if they are willing to help the whole family to get out of the slums.
"The Middle East family were moved to tears by the plight of the young orphans shown in the film and fell in love with Rubina.
"Just as Western stars like Madonna do, they want to adopt children from poor areas and give them a better life.
"This family wanted to take Rubina abroad. They agreed to come to Mumbai to discuss the adoption in May.
"But the approach has made Rafiq very greedy and he has said that he will consider the highest offer for his child. But they realise that the money will soon stop coming in and Rafiq is open to all offers."
Our investigator made contact with Rafiq and said we had heard he was considering having Rubina adopted. He told Rafiq he was acting for a wealthy Arab sheik who wanted to take the youngster to live with him 2,000 miles away in Dubai.
Rafiq replied: "Yes, we are considering Rubina's future.
SECRET SHAME: Rubina Ali is held aloft at Mumbai celebrations by dad now trying to sell her
"Why don't you speak to my brother-in-law, Rajan, and he will discuss it with you? I will ask him to call you."
After contacting us, Rubina's uncle Rajan More - who speaks good English - confirmed: "Yes, we are interested in securing our girl's future.
"Rubina's life is miserable and she lives here with her stepmother. Most of the time she stays with me because she is not happy at her parents' home.
"Obviously if you wanted to adopt we could discuss this, but her parents would also expect some proper compensation in return. We are talking of around £50,000 for this to happen." In another phone call, father Rafiq coolly confirmed: "Whatever you have discussed with Rajan, I agree with. Whatever money is agreed by Rajan, I will accept.
"We can discuss everything about this deal when we meet. There's a lot of interest in Rubina, she's become very famous."
Without querying the background, intentions, or even the names of Rubina's prospective new parents, Rafiq arranged to meet us.
By Mazher Mahmood, 19/04/2009
THE poverty-stricken father of Slumdog Millionaire child star Rubina Ali plans to become a millionaire himself-by SELLING his nine-year-old daughter.
In a bid to escape India's real-life slums, Rafiq Qureshi put angel-faced darling of the Oscars Rubina up for adoption, demanding millions of rupees worth £200,000.
As he offered the shocking deal to the News of the World's undercover fake sheik this week, Rafiq declared: "I have to consider what's best for me, my family and Rubina's future."
Rafiq tried to blame Hollywood bosses for forcing him to put his daughter up for SALE.
As he tried to fix the illegal adoption deal, real-life slum dweller Rafiq declared: "We've got nothing out of this film."
Then, almost embarrassed to speak it out loud, he whispered to an accomplice the price tag he has put on his innocent young daughter: "It's £200,000!"
That was an astonishing FOURFOLD increase on his opening demand. But Rafiq's equally demanding brother Mohiuddin insisted: "The child is special now. This is NOT an ordinary child. This is an Oscar child!"
BUY MY DAUGHTER: Father Rafiq (centre) and uncle Rajan More (left) pose with Rubina and our undercover team
Dad Rafiq is desperate to cash in on their nine-year-old's success in the blockbuster film by selling her to the highest bidder
He sees it as his family's escape route from the notorious Bandra slum sprawl of Mumbai.
Rafiq revealed his scheme to undercover News of the World reporters posing as a wealthy family from Dubai.
Slumdog Millionaire star Rubina Ali's dad puts his daughter up for sale
Riches
We travelled to Mumbai to expose the illegal sale after a tip-off from a concerned close family friend and former neighbour.
Shockingly, this sort of transaction is far from unusual in an impoverished nation where human life comes cheap and children are often treated as a commodity.
Rubina won the hearts of film-lovers around the world playing young Latika in British director Danny Boyle's movie that picked up eight Oscars and a pile of other glittering awards. It tells the rags to riches story of a young man from the slums who wins the Indian version of Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?
Filmed in Mumbai's seething pauper ghetto it depicts starkly true scenes of poverty and child cruelty, where young orphans are blinded and crippled by Fagin-like thugs and forced to beg on the streets. And with a staggering 11 million children abandoned in India every year, there is no shortage of young prey.
Our informant, now a city tour guide, told us: "Rubina's family are furious that despite the film doing so well and their pretty daughter becoming so famous, they are still living in such rough conditions.
"They were approached by one wealthy Middle Eastern family who saw their plight in an item on Al Jazeera TV. The couple expressed an interest in adopting young Rubina and her parents' eyes lit up.
"Dad Rafiq is streetwise and knows that soon his daughter's success will be forgotten and her moment of fame will be over. He has a family to feed and simply can't afford it. He is keen to find a rich family to bring up Rubina but only if they are willing to help the whole family to get out of the slums.
"The Middle East family were moved to tears by the plight of the young orphans shown in the film and fell in love with Rubina.
"Just as Western stars like Madonna do, they want to adopt children from poor areas and give them a better life.
"This family wanted to take Rubina abroad. They agreed to come to Mumbai to discuss the adoption in May.
"But the approach has made Rafiq very greedy and he has said that he will consider the highest offer for his child. But they realise that the money will soon stop coming in and Rafiq is open to all offers."
Our investigator made contact with Rafiq and said we had heard he was considering having Rubina adopted. He told Rafiq he was acting for a wealthy Arab sheik who wanted to take the youngster to live with him 2,000 miles away in Dubai.
Rafiq replied: "Yes, we are considering Rubina's future.
SECRET SHAME: Rubina Ali is held aloft at Mumbai celebrations by dad now trying to sell her
"Why don't you speak to my brother-in-law, Rajan, and he will discuss it with you? I will ask him to call you."
After contacting us, Rubina's uncle Rajan More - who speaks good English - confirmed: "Yes, we are interested in securing our girl's future.
"Rubina's life is miserable and she lives here with her stepmother. Most of the time she stays with me because she is not happy at her parents' home.
"Obviously if you wanted to adopt we could discuss this, but her parents would also expect some proper compensation in return. We are talking of around £50,000 for this to happen." In another phone call, father Rafiq coolly confirmed: "Whatever you have discussed with Rajan, I agree with. Whatever money is agreed by Rajan, I will accept.
"We can discuss everything about this deal when we meet. There's a lot of interest in Rubina, she's become very famous."
Without querying the background, intentions, or even the names of Rubina's prospective new parents, Rafiq arranged to meet us.
Monday, April 13, 2009
Purifying Charity (Zakat)
Conditions for Obligation
* Free, adult, sane Muslims.
* Possession of Nisab, and the passage of one, uninterrupted lunar year over it (uninterrupted in the sense that at no point during that period does the amount of money drop to zero. However, if it drops below the Nisab without disappearing completely, the year is not considered to be interrupted as long as the amount is over the Nisab at the period-end.)
* Zakat is due on : gold, silver, cash, gold or silver jewelry, produce, livestock, trade-goods.
* Non-zakatable items : house one lives in, cars one uses, clothes one wears, household furniture, weapons one uses, jewels or other jewelry besides gold and silver unless acquired for trade, interest (riba) - it must be disposed of.
Zakat on Gold, Silver and Cash
* Nisab for gold is 20 mithqal = 2.81 troy oz.= 87.48g
* Nisab for silver is 200 dirhams = 19.69 troy oz = 612.36g (~$)
* 2.5% on the amount present at lunar year-end.
* Gold and silver jewelry is zakatable, as are gold and silver utensils.
* Loans to others are zakatable provided they are guaranteed.
Zakat on Trade-Goods
* Zakat due on any trade-goods (including raw materials) if their value reaches the nisab value of gold or silver. The year need not be uninterrupted.
* Value of goods is added to value of gold and silver for purposes of nisab.
* Shares and bonds are zakatable on the income from investment if the company deals with land and immovable property the income and current share-price in other cases
* Machinery, land, fixtures and fittings are exempt fom zakat.
Zakat on Other Items
Produce: 10%
Animals.
Payment of Zakat
- Intention is essetial
May only be given to the following categories:
* faqir : poor; one who has some money, but not sufficient for his basic needs
* miskin : destitute; one who has nothing
* `amil `alayha : zakat collector, appointed by the Caliph
* mu'allafah qulubuhum : 'those whose hearts are to be reconciled'
* fi'r-riqab : to slaves to purchase their freedom
* gharim : one in debt for a legitimate reason
* fi sabilillah : in the path of Allah = mujaahidin.
* ibnu's-sabil : wayfarer; one stranded away from home, with no money available to him.
May be given to any or all of these categories. It is preferred to give to one's needy relatives for whom one is not financially responsible Islamically. It is disliked to give too much or too little to any one individual.
May not be given to:
* non-Muslims
* well-off or rich people
* father, grandfather, etc.
* son, grandson, etc.
* wife or husband
* Banu Hashim (family of the Prophet-saw) and their freed slaves
* an employee or laborer as wages
* an institution
It is disliked to transfer zakat funds to another country, unless there is a legitimate need.
Etiquettes of Paying Zakat
1. Understand the rationale
- test of love for Allah
- ridding oneself of miserliness
- thankfulness to Allah
2. Pay it in secret, preferably.
3. Do not ruin it by reminder and injury.
4. Do not consider it to be big.
5. Spend the best of your wealth.
6. Seek out the most pious, knowledgeable and dignified people
* Free, adult, sane Muslims.
* Possession of Nisab, and the passage of one, uninterrupted lunar year over it (uninterrupted in the sense that at no point during that period does the amount of money drop to zero. However, if it drops below the Nisab without disappearing completely, the year is not considered to be interrupted as long as the amount is over the Nisab at the period-end.)
* Zakat is due on : gold, silver, cash, gold or silver jewelry, produce, livestock, trade-goods.
* Non-zakatable items : house one lives in, cars one uses, clothes one wears, household furniture, weapons one uses, jewels or other jewelry besides gold and silver unless acquired for trade, interest (riba) - it must be disposed of.
Zakat on Gold, Silver and Cash
* Nisab for gold is 20 mithqal = 2.81 troy oz.= 87.48g
* Nisab for silver is 200 dirhams = 19.69 troy oz = 612.36g (~$)
* 2.5% on the amount present at lunar year-end.
* Gold and silver jewelry is zakatable, as are gold and silver utensils.
* Loans to others are zakatable provided they are guaranteed.
Zakat on Trade-Goods
* Zakat due on any trade-goods (including raw materials) if their value reaches the nisab value of gold or silver. The year need not be uninterrupted.
* Value of goods is added to value of gold and silver for purposes of nisab.
* Shares and bonds are zakatable on the income from investment if the company deals with land and immovable property the income and current share-price in other cases
* Machinery, land, fixtures and fittings are exempt fom zakat.
Zakat on Other Items
Produce: 10%
Animals.
Payment of Zakat
- Intention is essetial
May only be given to the following categories:
* faqir : poor; one who has some money, but not sufficient for his basic needs
* miskin : destitute; one who has nothing
* `amil `alayha : zakat collector, appointed by the Caliph
* mu'allafah qulubuhum : 'those whose hearts are to be reconciled'
* fi'r-riqab : to slaves to purchase their freedom
* gharim : one in debt for a legitimate reason
* fi sabilillah : in the path of Allah = mujaahidin.
* ibnu's-sabil : wayfarer; one stranded away from home, with no money available to him.
May be given to any or all of these categories. It is preferred to give to one's needy relatives for whom one is not financially responsible Islamically. It is disliked to give too much or too little to any one individual.
May not be given to:
* non-Muslims
* well-off or rich people
* father, grandfather, etc.
* son, grandson, etc.
* wife or husband
* Banu Hashim (family of the Prophet-saw) and their freed slaves
* an employee or laborer as wages
* an institution
It is disliked to transfer zakat funds to another country, unless there is a legitimate need.
Etiquettes of Paying Zakat
1. Understand the rationale
- test of love for Allah
- ridding oneself of miserliness
- thankfulness to Allah
2. Pay it in secret, preferably.
3. Do not ruin it by reminder and injury.
4. Do not consider it to be big.
5. Spend the best of your wealth.
6. Seek out the most pious, knowledgeable and dignified people
Saturday, April 11, 2009
Thailand declares emergency, cancels Asian summit
Thailand declares emergency, cancels Asian summit
PATTAYA, Thailand (AP) ¡ª Thailand has declared a state of emergency in the town where a summit of Asian leaders was supposed to be held after protesters stormed the venue. The meeting has been canceled.
The decree also covers the area surrounding Pattaya. It gives the military the right to restore order, allows authorities to suspend civil liberties, bans public gatherings of more than five people and bars the media from reporting news that "causes panic."
Thai Prime Abhisit Vejjajiva declared the emergency Saturday after protesters demanding his ouster smashed the glass doors of the summit venue and swarmed the building.
Government spokesman Supachai Jaisamuth said the situation was "too violent" for the meeting to take place.
THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP's earlier story is below.
PATTAYA, Thailand (AP) ¡ª A Thai government officials say a summit of Asian leaders has been canceled for security reasons.
The announcement Saturday came after more than 1,000 anti-government protesters smashed through glass doors to storm into the convention hall where some of the meetings were scheduled to take place.
Government spokesman Supachai Jaisamuth said the situation was "too violent" for the meeting to take place.
The protesters are calling for the resignation of Thai Prime Abhisit Vejjajiva.
Copyright © 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
PATTAYA, Thailand (AP) ¡ª Thailand has declared a state of emergency in the town where a summit of Asian leaders was supposed to be held after protesters stormed the venue. The meeting has been canceled.
The decree also covers the area surrounding Pattaya. It gives the military the right to restore order, allows authorities to suspend civil liberties, bans public gatherings of more than five people and bars the media from reporting news that "causes panic."
Thai Prime Abhisit Vejjajiva declared the emergency Saturday after protesters demanding his ouster smashed the glass doors of the summit venue and swarmed the building.
Government spokesman Supachai Jaisamuth said the situation was "too violent" for the meeting to take place.
THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP's earlier story is below.
PATTAYA, Thailand (AP) ¡ª A Thai government officials say a summit of Asian leaders has been canceled for security reasons.
The announcement Saturday came after more than 1,000 anti-government protesters smashed through glass doors to storm into the convention hall where some of the meetings were scheduled to take place.
Government spokesman Supachai Jaisamuth said the situation was "too violent" for the meeting to take place.
The protesters are calling for the resignation of Thai Prime Abhisit Vejjajiva.
Copyright © 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
Thursday, April 9, 2009
Full List of Najib Cabinet
FULL LIST
Prime Minister
Najib Abdul Razak
Deputy Prime Minister
Muhyiddin Yassin
Ministers in the Prime Minister's Department
Dr Koh Tsu Koon - Unity Affairs and Performance Management
Nazri Abdul Aziz - Minister in charge of law and Parliament
Nor Mohamed Yaakop - Economic Planning Unit
Major Gen Jamil Khir Baharom - Islamic Affairs
Deputies: Liew Vui Keong, Senator Dr Mashitah Ibrahim, SK Devamany, Ahmad Maslan and Senator T Murugiah
Finance Ministry
Najib Abdul Razak (1)
Ahmad Husni Hanadzlan (2)
Deputies: Chor Chee Heong, Senator Dr Awang Adek Hussien
Education Ministry
Muhyiddin Yassin
Deputy: Wee Ka Siong, Puad Zarkashi
Transport Ministry
Ong Tee Keat
Deputies: Abdul Rahim Bakri, Robert Lau Hoi Chew
Agricultural Development and Commodities
Bernard Dompok
Deputy: Hamzah Zainuddin
Home Affairs
Hishammuddin Hussien
Deputies: Abu Seman Yusop, Jelaing Mersat
Information, Communication, Arts and Culture
Rais Yatim
Deputies: Joseph Salang Gandum, Senator Heng Seai Kie
Energy, Green Technology and Water
Peter Chin Fah Kui
Deputy: Noriah Kasnon
Rural Development and Territories
Shafie Apdal
Deputies: Hassan Malek, Joseph Entulu Belaun
Higher Education
Khaled Nordin
Deputies: Dr Hou Kok Chung, Saifuddin Abdullah
International Trade and Industry
Mustapa Mohamad
Deputies: Mukhriz Mahathir, Jacob Dungau Sagan
Science, Technology and Innovation
Dr Maximus Ongkili
Deputy: Fadillah Yusof
Tourism
Ng Yen Yen
Deputy: Sulaiman Abdul Rahman Abdul Taib
Agriculture
Noh Omar
Deputies: Johari Baharom, Rohani Abdul Karim
Defence
Ahmad Zahid Hamidi
Deputy: Abdul Latif Ahmad
Works
Shaziman Abu Mansor
Deputies: Yong Khoon Seng
Health
Liow Tiong Lai
Deputy: Rosnah Rashid Shilin
Youth and Sports
Ahmad Shabery Cheek
Deputies: Razali Ibrahim, Wee Jeck Seng
Human Resource
Dr S Subramaniam
Deputy: Maznah Mazlan
Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs
Ismail Sabri Yaakob
Deputy: Tan Lian Hoe
Housing and Local Government
Kong Cho Ha
Deputy: Lajim Ukin
Women, Family and Society Development
Senator Sharizat Abdul Jalil
Deputy: Senator Chew Mei Fun
Foreign
Anifah Aman
Deputies: Senator A Kohilan Pillay, Senator Lee Chee Leong
Federal Territories
Raja Nong Chik Raja Zainal Abidin
Deputy: M Saravanan
Prime Minister
Najib Abdul Razak
Deputy Prime Minister
Muhyiddin Yassin
Ministers in the Prime Minister's Department
Dr Koh Tsu Koon - Unity Affairs and Performance Management
Nazri Abdul Aziz - Minister in charge of law and Parliament
Nor Mohamed Yaakop - Economic Planning Unit
Major Gen Jamil Khir Baharom - Islamic Affairs
Deputies: Liew Vui Keong, Senator Dr Mashitah Ibrahim, SK Devamany, Ahmad Maslan and Senator T Murugiah
Finance Ministry
Najib Abdul Razak (1)
Ahmad Husni Hanadzlan (2)
Deputies: Chor Chee Heong, Senator Dr Awang Adek Hussien
Education Ministry
Muhyiddin Yassin
Deputy: Wee Ka Siong, Puad Zarkashi
Transport Ministry
Ong Tee Keat
Deputies: Abdul Rahim Bakri, Robert Lau Hoi Chew
Agricultural Development and Commodities
Bernard Dompok
Deputy: Hamzah Zainuddin
Home Affairs
Hishammuddin Hussien
Deputies: Abu Seman Yusop, Jelaing Mersat
Information, Communication, Arts and Culture
Rais Yatim
Deputies: Joseph Salang Gandum, Senator Heng Seai Kie
Energy, Green Technology and Water
Peter Chin Fah Kui
Deputy: Noriah Kasnon
Rural Development and Territories
Shafie Apdal
Deputies: Hassan Malek, Joseph Entulu Belaun
Higher Education
Khaled Nordin
Deputies: Dr Hou Kok Chung, Saifuddin Abdullah
International Trade and Industry
Mustapa Mohamad
Deputies: Mukhriz Mahathir, Jacob Dungau Sagan
Science, Technology and Innovation
Dr Maximus Ongkili
Deputy: Fadillah Yusof
Tourism
Ng Yen Yen
Deputy: Sulaiman Abdul Rahman Abdul Taib
Agriculture
Noh Omar
Deputies: Johari Baharom, Rohani Abdul Karim
Defence
Ahmad Zahid Hamidi
Deputy: Abdul Latif Ahmad
Works
Shaziman Abu Mansor
Deputies: Yong Khoon Seng
Health
Liow Tiong Lai
Deputy: Rosnah Rashid Shilin
Youth and Sports
Ahmad Shabery Cheek
Deputies: Razali Ibrahim, Wee Jeck Seng
Human Resource
Dr S Subramaniam
Deputy: Maznah Mazlan
Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs
Ismail Sabri Yaakob
Deputy: Tan Lian Hoe
Housing and Local Government
Kong Cho Ha
Deputy: Lajim Ukin
Women, Family and Society Development
Senator Sharizat Abdul Jalil
Deputy: Senator Chew Mei Fun
Foreign
Anifah Aman
Deputies: Senator A Kohilan Pillay, Senator Lee Chee Leong
Federal Territories
Raja Nong Chik Raja Zainal Abidin
Deputy: M Saravanan
Najib names his new cabinet
Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak today announced his much-awaited cabinet which saw many old faces retained and Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin being left out of the line-up.
The cabinet has been slashed from 32 ministers to 28 but the number of deputy ministers increased from 38 to 40.
At the same time, the number of ministries have been reduced from 28 to 25, with the merger of a few portfolios.
Najib made his announcement at 3pm and he was flanked by his new deputy Muhyiddin Yassin, who was also named education minister.
In a brief 15-minute statement before reading out his list, Najib said the cabinet reflected the government's aim to focus on people-first paradigm.
He said two ministries have been merged and one new ministry formed. A separate portfolio has also been created to oversee national unity under the PM's Department.
The new premier also added that he would personally evaluate the performance of each minister every six months.
Key ministers dropped
The following are ministers dropped by Najib:
Syed Hamid Albar (Home Affairs), Muhammad Muhd Taib (Rural and Regional Development), Azalina Othman Said (Tourism), Ong Ka Chuan (Housing and Local Government), Senator Amirshah A Aziz (Minister in the PM's Department), Mohd Zin Mohamed (Works), Douglas Uggah Embas (Natural Resources and Environment) and Zulhasnan Rafique (Federal Territories).
Shahrir Samad who had tendered his resignation as domestic trade and consumer affairs minister last week was not considered in this line-up.
Also not included in the new line-up was Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin, but his rival Mukhriz Mahathir has been named a deputy minister.
Khairy is the only head of the three Umno wings not appointed minister.
Sabah has increased its representation in the cabinet from three ministers in the previous cabinet to four.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)