Answers to frequently asked questions about Malaysia's cabinet, government structure, and ministerial appointments.
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Current Cabinet Composition
Dato' Seri Anwar Ibrahim is the Prime Minister of Malaysia. He has been serving since 24 Nov 2022, and also holds the position of Minister of Finance.
The Malaysian cabinet currently consists of 28 ministers, including the Prime Minister, Deputy Prime Ministers, and various portfolio ministers.
The Malaysian cabinet includes ministers from multiple parties including PKR, UMNO, DAP, AMANAH, PBB, PDP, PRS, BERSATU, and PBRS, forming the unity government coalition.
The Malaysian cabinet currently has 5 women ministers, including the Minister of Education, Minister of Housing and Local Government, and Minister of Women, Family and Community Development.
Yes, Sabah and Sarawak have significant representation in the cabinet. This includes the Deputy Prime Minister II (Sarawak), as well as ministers and deputy ministers from parties such as PBB, PRS, PDP, and PBS, reflecting East Malaysia's importance in the federal government.
Malaysia has two Deputy Prime Ministers: Dato' Seri Dr. Ahmad Zahid Hamidi (DPM I, also Minister of Rural and Regional Development) and Dato' Sri Fadillah Yusof (DPM II, also Minister of Energy Transition and Water Transformation).
The Unity Government is a coalition government formed after GE15 in Nov 2022. It combines Pakatan Harapan (PH), Barisan Nasional (BN), Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS), and Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) under Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim's leadership.
Malaysia currently has approximately 30 deputy ministers serving across various ministries. The exact number can change with cabinet reshuffles. Deputy ministers are appointed to assist cabinet ministers in managing large ministries and handling specific policy areas. Unlike cabinet ministers, deputy ministers are not counted as full members of the cabinet and typically report to their respective senior ministers.
Understanding the Cabinet
Deputy ministers (Timbalan Menteri) are not the same as cabinet ministers. They assist senior ministers in managing their ministries but are not full members of the cabinet. Deputy ministers help with day-to-day ministry operations and may represent the senior minister at events or meetings. Malaysia currently has 28 cabinet ministers (including the Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Ministers) and approximately 30 deputy ministers across various ministries.
The Malaysian cabinet is organized in this order from top to bottom:
1. Prime Minister - Head of government, chairs cabinet meetings. 2. Deputy Prime Ministers - Currently 2 (DPM I and DPM II), senior ministers who assist the PM. 3. Cabinet Ministers - Head individual ministries (28 total including PM and DPMs). 4. Deputy Ministers - Assist cabinet ministers (not counted as cabinet members).
The Prime Minister typically also serves as a portfolio minister. Currently, the PM holds the Finance portfolio.
The Prime Minister's Department (Jabatan Perdana Menteri or JPM) is a special ministry that handles cross-cutting government functions that don't fit neatly into traditional ministry portfolios. It includes ministers responsible for Law and Institutional Reform, Religious Affairs, Federal Territories, and Sabah & Sarawak Affairs. Unlike traditional ministries, these portfolios report directly to the Prime Minister and coordinate policy across multiple government agencies.
Appointments & Process
The Prime Minister appoints cabinet ministers from elected Members of Parliament (MPs) in the Dewan Rakyat (House of Representatives) or appointed members of the Dewan Negara (Senate). All ministerial appointments must receive royal approval from the Yang di-Pertuan Agong (King). The Prime Minister typically chooses ministers based on political party representation in the governing coalition, expertise, and regional balance. Ministers serve at the pleasure of the Prime Minister and can be reshuffled or replaced at any time.
Recent Changes
The latest Malaysian cabinet reshuffle took place on 16 Dec 2025, with several ministerial positions being reassigned.
The December 2025 cabinet reshuffle saw several key changes including new ministers appointed for Economy, Investment, and Youth & Sports portfolios, plus over 20 new deputy ministers appointed across various ministries.
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This website provides information about cabinet ministers but is not affiliated with or operated by the Government of Malaysia. To contact government ministries and departments directly for official matters, services, or inquiries, please visit: the main government portal at malaysia.gov.my, the Prime Minister's Office at pmo.gov.my, or MyGovernment service at my.gov.my for government services and contact information.
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