KUALA LUMPUR: All the 27 deputy ministers of the Unity Government were today sworn in before Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri'ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah at Istana Negara here.
They took their oath of office, loyalty and secrecy before signing the official documents on their appointment, witnessed by Chief Justice Tun Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat and Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Mohd Zuki Ali.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and his wife Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail were present to witness the ceremony, which began at 3pm.
Also in attendance were the two Deputy Prime Ministers - Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, who is also the Rural and Regional Development Minister, and Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof, who is also Plantation Industries and Commodities Minister - and their wives.
Also present were Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Acryl Sani Abdullah Sani and Chief of Defence Force Jen Tan Sri Affendi Buang.
The line-up of deputy ministers in the Unity Government was unveiled by Anwar last night.
At the swearing-in ceremony, the deputy ministers were divided into four groups, with the first group led by the two Deputy Finance Ministers, namely Umno secretary-general Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan and DAP national organising secretary Steven Sim Chee Keong.
Also in this group was Kota Samarahan MP Datuk Rubiah Wang, who is the Rural and Regional Development Deputy Minister; Beaufort MP Datuk Siti Aminah Aching (Plantation Industries and Commodities Deputy Minister); Datuk Hasbi Habibollah (Transport Deputy Minister); Chan Foong Hin (Agriculture and Food Security Deputy Minister) and Datuk Hanifah Hajar Taib (Economy Deputy Minster).
The second group comprised seven deputy ministers, including PKR strategic director Akmal Nasrullah Mohd Nasir (Local Government Development Ministry), Melaka Pakatan Harapan (PH) chairman Adly Zahari (Defence Ministry) and Datuk Seri Abdul Rahman Mohamad (Works Ministry).
The others in the group were Barisan Nasional (BN) communications director Datuk Seri Dr Shamsul Anuar Nasarah, who is Deputy Home Minister; Johor DAP chairman Liew Chin Tong (International Trade and Industry Ministry); Lahad Datu MP Datuk Mohamad Yusof Apdal (Higher Education Ministry); and Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah (PBRS) deputy president Datuk Arthur Joseph Kurup (Science, Technology and Innovation Ministry).
The third group was led by Parti Amanah Negara (Amanah) Wanita chief Aiman Athirah Sabu (Women, Family and Community Development Deputy Minister), followed by former Wanita PKR chief Senator Fuziah Salleh, who is the Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Deputy Minister, and Bukit Gelugor MP Ramkarpal Singh, who is Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Law and Institutional Reform).
Also in the group were Sarikei MP Datuk Seri Huang Tiong Sii as Natural Resources, Environment and Climate Change Deputy Minister; PKR vice-president Senator K. Saraswathy (Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives Deputy Minister); Kimanis MP Datuk Mohamad Alamin (Foreign Minister Deputy Minister) and Batu Sapi MP Khairul Firdaus Akbar Khan (Tourism, Arts and Culture Deputy Minister).
The final group comprised Kulai MP Teo Nie Ching (Communications and Digital Deputy Minister); Tanjong MP Lim Hui Ying (Deputy Education Minister); Hang Tuah Jaya MP Adam Adli Abd Halim (Youth and Sports Deputy Minister); Sepanggar MP Mustapha @ Mohd Yunus Sakmud (Human Resources Deputy Minister); Sibuti MP Lukanisman Awang Sauni (Deputy Health Minister) and Hulu Rajang MP Datuk Wilson Ugak Kumbong as Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Sabah, Sarawak Affairs and Special Functions). - BERNAMA