PETALING JAYA: Parliamentary affairs will now be handled by newly appointed Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said.
Azalina, who was appointed a minister in last Tuesday’s Cabinet reshuffle, takes over the task from her counterpart Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim.
“Yes, it is confirmed. I feel honoured with the appointment,” she said in a text message to The Star. Azalina said she would meet Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Mulia to discuss possible reforms.
Deputy Speaker Datuk Seri Ronald Kiandee welcomed Azalina as the new minister in charge of parliamentary affairs.
“We are sure she will handle executive matters in Parliament well with her past experience as a minister,” he said.
Azalina was Youth and Sports Minister from 2004 to 2008. She then took over the Tourism Ministry from 2008 to 2009.
Shahidan is now the Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department in charge of the Civil Defence Department, where he will lead the management of natural disasters. He is also in charge of the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency as well as disaster management and relief operations under the National Security Council.
Meanwhile, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Dr Wee Ka Siong said he did not foresee any major changes to his existing duties.
“I will be continuing the responsibilities and duties which I was doing before this,” he said.
Dr Wee, who is also MCA deputy president, is currently in charge of development of small and medium enterprises, micro credit and Chinese new villages
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