Sarawak Cabinet to be expanded

The current Sarawak Cabinet that is made up of 11 ministers and 26 assistant ministers will be expanded due to the state assembly expansion from 82 to 99 seats, confirmed Sarawak assembly speaker Tan Sri Asfia Awang Nassar.

“The ever-expanding, stupendous task and responsibilities of the Cabinet inescapably require an increase in the number of ministers.

“Some ministers have two portfolios, some ministers have three portfolios, and their winding up is very lengthy.

Therefore, you need to increase the number of ministers and split the portfolios,” he told a press conference after the pre-council meeting in Kuching ahead of the State Legislative Assembly sitting

The expansion will not affect the number of deputy ministers, as there is no limit on their appointments.

The next meeting will run for eight days from Nov 24 to Dec 3, excluding Nov 29 and Nov 30.

He also said that the final decision on who would make up the state cabinet is the prerogative of Sarawak Premier, Tan Sri (Dr) Abang Abdul Rahman Zohari Tun Datuk Abang Haji Openg.

“We leave it to the premier to decide which minister will hold which portfolio, and how many ministers there will be. I will not disclose that at this time. The list is already with the premier,” Asfia said.