Cabinet of Malaysia
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The Cabinet of Malaysia is the executive branch of Malaysia's government. Led by the Prime Minister, the cabinet is a council of ministers who are accountable to the Parliament. According to the Article 43 of the Constitution, members of the Cabinet can only be selected from members of either houses of Parliament. Formally, the Yang di-Pertuan Agong appoints all Ministers on the advice of the Prime Minister, which he is obliged to follow. [1]
By convention, members of the Cabinet are typically appointed from the lower house of Parliament, the Dewan Rakyat. Although Deputy Ministers and/or Parliamentary Secretaries may be appointed to each portfolio, they are not included in the Cabinet. The Cabinet meets weekly, every Wednesday.[2]
The composition of the Cabinet, and the number of portfolios depends mainly on the wishes of the Prime Minister at the time. However, the post of Finance Minister was considered so important as to be a necessity, and as a result was incorporated by the Minister of Finance (Incorporation) Act 1957 (Act 375).[3] The position of Deputy Prime Minister is one that exists by convention, and as a result a Prime Minister could theoretically form a Cabinet without a Deputy.[4]
Deputy Ministers and Parliamentary Secretaries exist for each portfolio, although they are not considered members of the Cabinet. The position of Deputy Minister was created by constitutional amendment in 1960, while Parliamentary Secretaries were provided for by another amendment in 1963. Deputy Ministers and Parliamentary Secretaries are also appointed from members of Parliament, and hold the same powers as Ministers. An additional office, that of Political Secretary, exists. Political Secretaries need not be members of Parliament. Before taking office, all members of the Cabinet, Deputy Ministers, Parliamentary Secretaries and Political Secretaries take an oath of secrecy concerning the proceedings of the Cabinet. (See also Official Secrets Act (Malaysia).)[4]
[edit] Present Malaysian Cabinet
As of 15 February 2006, this is the composition of the Malaysian Cabinet.
| Portfolio | Minister |
|---|---|
| Prime Minister of Malaysia | Abdullah Ahmad Badawi |
| Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia | Najib Tun Razak |
| Internal Security Minister | Abdullah Ahmad Badawi |
| Finance Minister | Abdullah Ahmad Badawi |
| Defence Minister | Najib Tun Razak |
| Housing and Local Government Minister | Ong Ka Ting |
| Works Minister | Samy Vellu |
| Energy, Water and Communications Minister | Lim Keng Yaik |
| Agriculture and Agro-Based Industry Minister | Muhyiddin Yassin |
| International Trade and Industry Minister | Rafidah Aziz |
| Foreign Minister | Syed Hamid Albar |
| Education Minister | Hishammuddin Tun Hussein |
| Transport Minister | Chan Kong Choy |
| Human Resources Minister | Fong Chan Onn |
| Home Affairs Minister | Mohd Radzi Sheikh Ahmad |
| Women, Family and Community Development Minister | Shahrizat Abdul Jalil |
| Culture, Arts and Heritage Minister | Rais Yatim |
| Science, Technology and Innovation Minister | Dr. Jamaluddin Jarjis |
| Second Finance Minister | Nor Mohamed Yakcop |
| Entrepreneurial and Cooperative Development Minister | Mohamed Khaled Nordin |
| Higher Education Minister | Mustapa Mohamed |
| Natural Resources and Environment Minister | Azmi Khalid |
| Rural and Regional Development Minister | Abdul Aziz Shamsuddin |
| Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister | Shafie Apdal |
| Plantation Industries and Commodities Minister | Peter Chin Fah Kui |
| Youth and Sports Minister | Azalina Othman |
| Health Minister | Dr Chua Soi Lek |
| Minister in the Prime Minister's Department | Bernard Dompok |
| Minister in the Prime Minister's Department | Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz |
| Minister in the Prime Minister's Department | Dr Abdullah Md Zin |
| Minister in the Prime Minister's Department | Dr Maximus Ongkili |
| Information Minister | Zainuddin Maidin |
| Minister in the Prime Minister's Department | Mohd Effendi Norwawi |
| Tourism Minister | Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor |
| Federal Territories Minister | Zulhasnan Rafique |
[edit] Notes and references
- ^ Hj. Mohd Jali, Nazaruddin, Redzuan, Ma'arof, Abu Samah, Asnarulkhadi & Hj. Mohd Rashid, Ismail (2003). Malaysian Studies: Nationhood and Citizenship, p. 73. Pearson Malaysia. ISBN 983-2473-91-8.
- ^ Funston, John (2001). "Malaysia: Developmental State Challenged". In John Funston (Ed.), Government and Politics in Southeast Asia, pp. 173–175. Singapore: Institute of Southeast Asian Studies.
- ^ Wu, Min Aun & Hickling, R. H. (2003). Hickling's Malaysian Public Law, pp. 84–85. Petaling Jaya: Pearson Malaysia. ISBN 983-74-2518-0.
- ^ a b Wu & Hickling, p. 86.
