BARISAN Nasional’s (BN) Pontian lawmaker Ahmad Maslan and Pakatan Harapan’s (PH) Bukit Mertajam MP Steven Sim have been named deputy finance ministers in the unity government.

For the Umno secretary-general, this is his second stint in the ministry, having served there during the Najib Razak administration, while Sim was former deputy youth and sports minister in the PH government.

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim announced the appointments at a press conference tonight.

Anwar named Bukit Gelugor MP Ramkarpal Singh deputy law minister, while Iskandar Puteri MP Liew Chin Tong, who was deputy defence minister in the previous PH government, will be deputy international trade and industry minister.

First-time Hang Tuah Jaya MP and PKR Youth chief Adam Adli Abd Halim was named deputy youth and sports minister.

Anwar said the 27 deputy ministers will take their oaths of office before Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah at 3pm tomorrow.

Surprisingly, Shamsul Anuar Nasarah returned as deputy home minister after retaining the Lenggong seat for BN. He was energy and natural resources minister in the Muhyiddin administration.

Kulai MP Teo Nie Ching from DAP, who was deputy education minister, is now deputy digital communications minister. 

From Sabah, Arthur Joseph Kurup, who won the Pensiangan seat, was named deputy science, technology and innovation minister.

Two PKR candidates who lost in the general election – Fuziah Salleh (Kuantan) and Saraswathy Kandasami (Tapah) – have been appointed to the Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry and Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives Ministry, respectively.

They will be made senators.

The other deputy ministers in the unity government are:

– Kota Samarahan MP Rubiah Wang (GPS): Deputy rural and regional development minister 

– Kota Kinabalu MP Chan Foong Hin (DA): Deputy agriculture and food security minister

– Limbang MP Hasbi Habibollah (GPS): Deputy transport minister 

– Hulu Rajang MP Wilson Ugak Kumbong (GPS): Deputy minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Sabah and Sarawak affairs)

– Mukah MP Hanifah Hajar Taib (GPS): Deputy economy minister

– Tanjong MP Lim Hui Ying (DAP): Deputy education minister 

– Alor Gajah MP Adly Zahari (Amanah): Deputy defence minister 

– Raj Munni Sabu @ Aiman Athirah Al Jundi (Amanah): Deputy women, family and community development minister 

– Sibuti MP Lukanisman Awang Sauni (GPS): Deputy health minister 

– Lipis MP Abdul Rahman Mohamad (BN): Deputy works minister 

– Batu Sapi MP Khairul Firdaus Akhbar Khan (GRS): Deputy tourism, arts and culture minister 

– Johor Baru MP Akmal Nasrullah Mohd Nasir (PKR): Deputy local government development minister

– Kimanis MP Mohamad Alamin (BN): Deputy foreign minister

– Lahad Datu MP Mohammad Yusof Apdal (Warisan): Deputy higher education minister

– Sepanggar MP Mustapha Sakmud (PKR): Deputy human resources minister 

– Beaufort MP Siti Aminah Aching (BN): Deputy plantation and commodities minister 

– Sarikei MP Huang Tiong Sii (GPS): Deputy natural resources, environment and climate change minister – December 9, 2022.