Malaysia’s Prime Minister makes several Changes in Cabinet

KUALA LUMPUR – After a year in office, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim reshuffled his cabinet on Tuesday, bringing back a second finance minister and making several changes to the foreign, defense, and energy portfolios.

Public opinion polls favoring Anwar have declined recently due to worries about inflation and the economy as well as the sluggish progress of the reforms that have been promised.

Anwar declared that the economy, health, and education were his government’s top priorities while announcing a reorganization that resulted in the creation of multiple new positions.

Anwar made more than two dozen changes, including appointing a new minister of commodities and moving deputy prime minister Fadillah Yusof to a newly formed portfolio pertaining to energy transition and public utilities.

Additionally, he promoted United Malay National Organization (UMNO) deputy president Mohamad Hasan from defense minister to foreign minister.

The executive of Malaysia’s largest pension fund, Amir Hamzah Azizan, was given the position of second finance minister, which Anwar, who is also the minister of finance, restored.

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Anwar said at a press conference that was broadcast on television, “The ministry of finance, other than being headed by me, must have a strong professional team to ensure we are on the right track and the focus on the economy.”

Anwar is the head of a coalition of progressive parties that includes the parties from East Malaysia, the former rival UMNO, and several smaller parties.

Anwar’s approval rating fell to 50% from 68% in December of last year in the most recent survey conducted by independent pollster Merdeka Center, which was released last month. Meanwhile, support for the government fell to 41% from 54%.

According to the Merdeka Center, worries about the economy were the main driver of sentiment. Due to decreased exports, Malaysia’s economic growth has drastically slowed this year from 8.7% in 2022.

Although concerns about rising consumer costs due to the weakening of the ringgit, one of Asia’s worst performing currencies this year, persist, inflation has also moderated.