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Six to be sworn-in as Senators for Cabinet posts

Mar 10, 2020

Six senators will be sworn in today, to pave the way for them to become Ministers or Deputy Ministers in the new Cabinet. 

Among them are new Minister in the Prime Minister's Department in charge of religious affairs Datuk Seri Dr Zulkifli Mohamad Al-Bakri, who is the first ever mufti to be appointed as a minister. 

Meanwhile, the appointment of CIMB Group CEO Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Tengku Aziz as the new Finance Minister, is the first time the powerful and influential position has not been given to a senior politician. 

All the new ministers and their deputies will be sworn-in in Putrajaya this afternoon.

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Not all are happy with the new Cabinet lineup

PKR Communications director Fahmi Fadzil says this Cabinet is bloated with 70 members in total. 

He also questioned how inclusive the lineup is, given that the ministers are all mostly male, and above the age of 50.

Speaking of the mostly-male lineup, the Women's Aid Organisation is disappointed that women continue to be under-represented in the Cabinet, with only five female ministers.

Nevertheless, it's hoping that they'll continue pushing for laws and reforms to benefit women.

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MOH wants private hospitals to help out with Covid-19 sitch

The Health Ministry is planning on getting private hospitals to start conducting Covid-19 screenings, to help take some of the burden off government facilities.

It has also announced details of its collaboration with private companies to conduct home Covid-19 screenings, with the tests to cost around RM700.

This, as 18 new positive infections were reported yesterday, taking the total number of cases in the country to 117.