Khairy Not In Cabinet List
Translated by DOMINIC LOH/Sin Chew Daily
From the information we get, UMNO Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin is not included in Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak's Cabinet list.
Instead, his defeated opponent Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir could be appointed youth and sports minister.
Meanwhile, UMNO Youth vice chairman, MP for Muar Datuk Razali Hj Ibrahim could also be offered a ministerial post.
At least four ministries will be merged, namely the ministries of higher education and education; and the ministries of international trade & industries and domestic trade & consumer affairs.
Information sources said Najib would continue to be the finance minister, while deputy prime minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin would also head the home ministry.
According to information sources from within UMNO, Najib will employ new blood in his Cabinet, and many of his ministers may not have any experience in the posts of deputy ministers or parliamentary secretaries.
Wanita UMNO chairman Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil's fate is also not yet certain. While some say she will not be in the Cabinet, others say she may be appointed minister in the prime minister's department, or the women, family and social development minister.
Former deputy defence minister Datuk Zainal Abidin may be promoted to defence minister, while another information source says Datuk Shafie Apdal, who has also been deputy finance minister before, will head this portfolio.
Datuk Ahmad Zahid, who was elected UMNO vice president with the highest number of votes, is said to be heading the merged trade and industries ministry.
Hishamuddin, meanwhile, may head the merged education ministry, but information sources say the ministry could also have a second minister, and the incumbent deputy minister Datuk Wee Ka Seong may be promoted.
However, another information source says Ahmad Zahid may be the education minister, while Hishamuddin will lead the trade and industries ministry.
Surprisingly, Datuk Seri Nazri may not be named the foreign minister, which sources say will be Shafie Apdal.
The incumbent youth and sports minister will be Datuk Ismail Sabri, taking the place of Azalina Othman.
Entrepreneurial and cooperative development Datuk Noh Omar will most likely keep his portfolio, while Gerakan chairman Tan Sri Koh Tsu Koon's post is yet to be decided.
