KUALA LUMPUR: Deputy ministers in Malaysian ministries maintain a largely ceremonial role, raising questions about their significant impact within the governmental structure.
A greater cause for the division of responsibilities between ministers and their deputies needs to be established, said Institute for Democracy and Economic Affairs (IDEAS) chief executive officer Dr Tricia Yeoh.
She added that this is to allow better contributions towards policy directions and strategic vision of the functioning of the ministries.
"Deputy ministers are technically not in the cabinet. However, empowering these officials to play a more active and substantive role is still essential.
"For now, I don't think that there is going to be major implications (in the overall administration of governmental affairs) just because the deputy ministers have changed," said Yeoh in an interview on NST's Beyond the Headlines.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's restructured cabinet now comprises 31 ministers, supported by 29 deputy ministers.
It represents a slight expansion from his initial cabinet of 28 members, with assistance from 27 deputy ministers.
Siti Aminah Aching was removed as the Plantation and Commodities deputy minister, only to be replaced by Chan Foong Hin.
This is after the latter having previously served as the deputy Agriculture and Food Security minister.
Wanita Umno leader Noraini Ahmad makes a return to the government scene.
She has been appointed as the deputy minister for Women, Family, and Community Development, marking a transition from her previous role as the Higher Education Minister.
An interesting addition to the cabinet is PKR's R Ramanan, newly appointed deputy Entrepreneur and Cooperatives Development minister. Serving his first term as the Sungai Buloh MP, Ramanan is also chairman of the Malaysian Indian Transformation Unit (Mitra).
He reminded all Cabinet members, including those newly appointed, that there is no honeymoon period, and they must continue to carry out their duties to address the issues facing the people.