PRIME Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad has decided on 13 ministerial positions in his new Pakatan Harapan cabinet, which will be presented to the Agong this evening.

A PH source told Malaysia Decides that the cabinet positions were settled in the pact’s presidential council meeting yesterday.

“All 13 portfolios have been decided. Dr Mahathir is PM and education minister. Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail is his deputy and women’s affairs and welfare minister.

“Mohamad Sabu is defence minister, Lim Guan Eng is finance minister and Muhyiddin Yassin is home minister.

“All four PH parties will get the remaining eight ministries, which will be divided equally among them.”

The source said another six ministers have yet to be announced by Dr Mahathir, who will select them from the lists submitted by PH components.

Dr Mahathir was sworn in as prime minister on May 10, and has been working on his cabinet list with his coalition partners.

The first 13 members of his cabinet are expected to be sworn in on Monday.

Another source said the six ministries and their ministers will be announced by Dr Mahathir on Monday.

“The ministers are not chosen based on how many seats the individual PH party won in the elections

“This is Dr Mahathir’s wisdom. He wants each party to get an equal share of the main ministries.

“For the portfolios that may come after this, the consideration will be based on the number of seats won.”

It has been over a week since PH won the 14th general election to take over Putrajaya, with Dr Mahathir at the helm. But, he has yet to form his cabinet.

Last week, he announced the appointments of Mohamad, Lim and Muhyiddin. Yesterday, he told the media that he will take on the education portfolio, while Dr Wan Azizah will oversee women’s affairs and welfare. – May 18, 2018.