KUALA LUMPUR: Kota Tinggi member of parliament Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin officially assumes his role as the new Defence Minister today.
His workday commenced at 8.30am at Dataran Wisma Pertahanan in Jalan Padang Tembak, where he was warmly welcomed by Armed Forces chief General Tan Sri Mohammad Ab Rahman and Defence Ministry secretary-general Datuk Seri Isham Ishak.
The day began with Khaled receiving the salute from the guard of honour, led by Major Mohd Ridhwan Mohd Asri, Captain Mohd Azum Schaharum, and Lieutenant Ahmad Fakhruzzakirin Abdul Rahman from the First Battalion of the Royal Malay Regiment.
Formerly the Higher Education Minister, Khaled's appointment comes as part of a cabinet reshuffle more than a year after the establishment of the unity government.
His oath-taking ceremony took place at Istana Negara before Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri'ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah.
Notably, Khaled takes over the Defence Ministry from Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan, who now heads the Foreign Ministry.