Defense Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob was appointed Deputy Prime Minister, effective immediately in a statement yesterday while retaining his Defence Minister portfolio.
The Prime Minister’s Office said this appointment will help the Prime Minister, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, manage the country’s administration and meet the needs of the people in a position where the country is facing a health and economic crisis at this time.
The statement also informed that Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein was appointed as the Senior Minister of Foreign Affairs.
As Senior Minister, he will lead the Security Cluster which was previously led by Ismail Sabri. In addition, the Prime Minister agreed for Hishammuddin to assist him in implementing the National Recovery Plan (PPN).
He said the two appointments were made known to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong and were made effective immediately.
In the statement, he also mentioned that hopefully, this new appointment will further enhance the capacity of the PN government especially in facing the COVID-19 pandemic, strengthen unity among the parties that make up the government and strengthen the PN government with a more transparent, corruption-free and integrity order.
The Prime Minister’s Office congratulates Ismail Sabri and Hishammuddin on this appointment.