THE window of opportunity for Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim to announce his cabinet by tomorrow is closing owing to several factors. 

While it has been reported that Anwar needs more time to fine-tune his cabinet following demands from his new partners in government, the Pakatan Harapan chairman also has a packed schedule in Ipoh tomorrow.

On top of that the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah will reportedly fly overseas on Saturday. 

Adding to the complication is the fact that the king will be leaving for Pekan in Pahang for Friday prayers followed by some events there. 

That means Anwar’s ministers, even if announced later tomorrow, will have to rush to be sworn in before the king’s departure, most likely on Saturday morning. 

PKR information chief Fahmi Fadzil has been reported as saying that there was no timeline given to Anwar to form his Cabinet.

“No exact date was given on when the announcement will be made. So there is no delay. 

“But the prime minister will make the announcement quite soon,” he said, as reported by New Straits Times. 

Speculation was rife that Anwar would be announcing his cabinet line-up soon following his audience with the Agong on Tuesday. 

Anwar was sworn in as the prime minister on November 24 and it is close to two weeks since the country went to the polls on November 19. 

It was first believed that Anwar would be announcing his Cabinet by today or tomorrow. 

However, the Prime Minister’s Office has released the prime minister’s schedule for tomorrow, which states that he will be in Ipoh and Tambun for the first time after the November 19 elections. 

His programme starts with an audience with the Sultan of Perak at Istana Kinta at 10am, followed by a walkabout and a meeting with people in Tanjung Rambutan at 11.30am.  

He will then visit the construction site of the Manjoi government clinic at 12.30pm. 

Following that the Perak state secretariat will be hosting Anwar at a “kenduri rakyat” in Ipoh. 

The event will take place at 1.45pm at the Masjid Muhammad Al-Fateh mosque in Taman Jati, Ipoh — within the Tambun constituency. 

Anwar will be performing Friday prayers at the mosque. – December 1, 2022.