PUTRAJAYA – Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim today hinted that the post of domestic trade minister will be filled as soon as possible.
Met by reporters after the One Million Al-Quran Waqf Solidarity event here today, he said a new minister will be named after taking into account several considerations.
“Insya-Allah, we will fill the vacancy. If you have any suggestions, please write to me as soon as possible… (for) me to consider,” the prime minister said when asked about the vacancy, which is due to the death of Datuk Seri Salahuddin Ayub last July 23.
Salahuddin, 61, died at Alor Star’s Sultanah Bahiyah Hospital due to a brain haemorrhage.
The duties of the domestic trade minister are currently assumed by Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali, who is minister in charge of Sabah and Sarawak affairs, as well as special functions.
Meanwhile, regarding the suggestion for him to explain in the Dewan Rakyat the reasons for Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi being granted a conditional discharge from his corruption trial, Anwar said: “Insya-Allah”.
Yesterday, Pasir Gudang MP Hassan Abdul Karim proposed to Anwar to give an explanation in the Dewan Rakyat pertaining to his alleged interference in Zahid’s discharge, so as to put a stop to the issue.
Prior to this, Anwar had stressed that he had never interfered in the court’s decision in the deputy prime minister’s case, and that it was the attorney-general who had the full power to decide for the prosecution. – September 15, 2023