THE new Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Minister will be announced after the elections in six states are completed, said Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.

Anwar said he needed time to appoint a successor to the late Salahuddin Ayub, who died on July 23.

“No replacement yet. After the state polls then there will be time for me to think it . It won’t be too long (for a new replacement),” he told reporters, after attending the closing ceremony of National Consumer Day 2023 at Piazza Pavilion Bukit Jalil, in Kuala Lumpur today.

Anwar said Sabah, Sarawak Affairs and Special Tasks Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Armizan Mohd Ali has been tasked to monitor the affairs of the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living until the replacement.

He also asked the ministry’s deputy minister, Fuziah Salleh, to assist Armizan in his duties at the ministry.

“For the time being, Armizan has been given the responsibility of monitoring and carrying out duties.

The portfolio was previously entrusted to Salahuddin, who died at the Sultanah Bahiyah Hospital in Alor Setar, Kedah, on July 23, after undergoing surgery for a brain haemorrhage the day before.

Salahuddin, 61, was very committed to fighting for the people’s well-being, especially on cost of living issues. – Bernama, July 30, 2023.