KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim is expected to meet the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri'ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah this afternoon to present the list of candidates for the cabinet deputy ministerial posts.
Sources said Anwar was scheduled to meet the King at 3pm.
This was to complete the federal administration following the appointments of 28 cabinet ministers who were sworn in on Dec 3.
The list of deputy ministers is expected to be announced by the prime minister later today before they are sworn in before Al-Sultan Abdullah tomorrow.
It was previously reported that at least 35 names, comprising elected representatives from Pakatan Harapan (PH), Barisan Nasional (BN), Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS), Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS), Parti Warisan (Warisan) had been submitted to Anwar for consideration for different deputy ministers' portfolios.
Putrajaya sources said the number of deputy ministers might be limited to only one for each ministry, save for a few that had been combined.
This was in line with Anwar's intention for a leaner cabinet, compared to the previous ones.
It is learnt that ministries such as the natural resources, environment and climate change ministry - which was formerly the environment and water ministry, for example, may get two deputy ministers.
There is also possibility that the Rural and Regional Development Ministry would also get two deputy ministers as the federal territories ministry had been removed from the cabinet.
The Finance Ministry and the Plantation and Commodities Ministry were also expected to get two deputy ministers each.
Among the names considered for the posts are said to be Kulai member of parliament (MP) Teo Nie Ching, Liew Chin Tong (Iskandar Puteri MP), Steven Sim (Bukit Mertajam), Sim Tze Tzin (Bayan Baru) and Balik Pulau MP Muhammad Bakhtiar Wan Chik from Pakatan Harapan (PH).
Pontian MP Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan, Datuk Mohamad Alamin (Kimanis), Datuk Mohd Shahar Abdullah (Paya Besar), Datuk Seri Abdul Rahman Mohamad (Lipis), Datuk Seri Jalaluddin Alias (Jelebu) and Tanjung Piai MP Datuk Seri Wee Jeck Seng from Barisan Nasional are also said to have made it to the list.
They were previously appointed as deputy ministers under the administration of former prime ministers Datuk Seri Najib Razak, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yasin and Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob.
Other names mentioned include Chong Chieng Jen (Stampin), Chan Foong Hin (Kota Kinabalu), Young Syefura Othman (Bentong), V Ganabatirau (Klang) and Shahredzan Johan (Bangi), all representing DAP.
Meanwhile, those from PKR said to be shortlisted include Rodziah Ismail (Ampang), Hassan Abdul Karim (Pasir Gudang), Adam Adli Abd Halim (Hang Tuah Jaya), Wong Chen (Subang), Zahir Hassan (Wangsa Maju) and Selayang MP, William Leong.
Amanah meanwhile is also said to have its own candidates to be considered, namely Alor Gajah MP Adly Zahari and Sri Gading representative Aminolhuda Hassan.
Warisan which won three parliamentary seats has submitted two names - Lahad Datu MP Datuk Mohd Yusof Apdal and Kota Belud MP, Isnaraissah Munirah Majilis.