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The Cabinet of Malaysia (Malay: Jemaah Menteri Malaysia) is the executive branch of the Government of Malaysia. Led by the Prime Minister, the cabinet is a council of ministers who are accountable collectively to the Parliament. According to the Article 43 of the Federal Constitution, members of the Cabinet can only be selected from members of either houses of Parliament. Formally, the Yang di-Pertuan Agong appoints all Ministers on the advice of the Prime Minister.^[1] The constitution is amended by repealing the Clause (8) of Article 43, enabling a person who is a member of State Legislative Assembly to continue to be one even when he or she is appointed as a minister or deputy minister in the cabinet. Ministers other than the Prime Minister shall hold office during the pleasure of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, unless the appointment of any Minister shall have been revoked by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong on the advice of the Prime Minister but any Minister may resign his office. In practice, the Yang di-Pertuan Agong is obliged to follow the advice of the Prime Minister on the appointment and dismissal of ministers.

Cabinet appointments

Members of the Cabinet must be members of either house of Parliament. Most ministers are appointed from the lower house, the Dewan Rakyat, although a few are appointed from the upper house, the Dewan Negara. The Prime Minister must be a member of the Dewan Rakyat. Although Deputy Ministers and Parliamentary Secretaries may be appointed to each portfolio, they are not included in the Cabinet. The Cabinet meets weekly, every Wednesday.^[2] After the position of Parliamentary Secretary was removed and partial live telecasts of Parliament proceedings began in 2008, Cabinet meetings were moved to Fridays whenever Parliament sat, so as to allow Ministers to personally answer questions during Question Time in Parliament.^[3]

Cabinet composition

The composition of the Cabinet, and the number of portfolios depends mainly on the wishes of the Prime Minister at the time. However, the post of Finance Minister was considered so important as to be a necessity, and as a result was incorporated by the Minister of Finance (Incorporation) Act 1957 (Act 375).^[4] The position of Deputy Prime Minister is one that exists by convention, and as a result a Prime Minister could theoretically form a Cabinet without a Deputy.^[5]

Deputy ministers exist for each portfolio, although they are not considered members of the Cabinet. The position of Deputy Minister was created by constitutional amendment in 1960. The office of parliamentary secretary for each ministry exists but none were appointed after the 2008 Malaysian general election. Parliamentary secretaries were provided for by an amendment in 1963. Deputy ministers and parliamentary secretaries are also appointed from members of Parliament, and deputise for the ministers in government ministries and in Parliament respectively. An additional office, that of the Political Secretary, exists. Political Secretaries need not be members of Parliament. Before taking office, all members of the Cabinet, Deputy Ministers, Parliamentary Secretaries, and Political Secretaries take an oath of secrecy concerning the proceedings of the Cabinet.^[5]

Functions of cabinet

An outline of the functions of the Cabinet are as follows:^[6]

• To formulate national economic policies and development programmes.
  • The Cabinet is responsible to formulate various development programs and projects for the development of the country. Examples are the New Economic Policy (NEP), the National Development Policy (NDP), and the National Vision Policy (NVP).
• To set the budget and finance of the country.
  • The government is allowed to generate revenues from the people through the collection of taxes, fines, summons, custom duties, fees, etc.
  • The government is allowed to plan for the various development programs, and also to allocate the resources for these development plans and programs.
• As an arena for suggestions, debates, and criticisms.
  • The Cabinet is allowed to discuss almost any issues of national interests, except those that touch on the special rights of the Malays, Bumiputeras and/or royal privileges. Article 153 (1): It shall be the responsibility of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong to safeguard the special position of the Malays and Natives of any of the States of Sabah and Sarawak, and the legitimate interests of other communities in accordance with the provisions of this Article.
• To propose and amend the law.
  • Law is proposed by the Executive and introduce in Parliament with the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd readings for approval.
  • Most provisions for the amendments of the constitution requires a 2/3 majority of the total number of members from both of the Houses (Dewan Negara and Dewan Rakyat)
  • The bill must be presented to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong for the final assent.

List of cabinets

22 cabinets have taken place in Malaysia since 1957 headed by eight Prime Ministers.

Current cabinet

Ministers

As of 25 May 2022, the Cabinet comprises:
  BN (14)   PN (12)   GPS (4)   PBS (1)   PBM (1)

Deputy Ministers

As of 27 August 2021, the deputy ministers are:
  PN (19)   BN (15)   GPS (4)

Inactive portfolio

Ministry of Agriculture and Food Industry

• Ministry of Agriculture
• Ministry of Agriculture and Agro-based Industry
• Ministry of Agriculture and Co-operatives
• Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries
• Ministry of Agriculture and Lands
• Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development

Ministry of Communications and Multimedia

• Ministry of Communications
• Ministry of Communications, Telecommunications and Posts
• Ministry of Information
• Ministry of Information and Broadcasting
• Ministry of Information, Communications and Culture
• Ministry of Information, Communications, Arts and Culture

Ministry of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs

• Ministry of Domestic Trade, Co-operatives and Consumerism

Ministry of Entrepreneur Development and Co-operatives

• Ministry of Coordination of Public Corporations
• Ministry of Public Enterprises
• Ministry of Entrepreneur Development

Ministry of Environment and Water

• Ministry of Energy, Communications and Multimedia
• Ministry of Energy, Science, Technology, Environment and Climate Change
• Ministry of Energy, Technology and Research
• Ministry of Energy, Telecommunications and Posts
• Ministry of Energy, Water and Communications

Ministry of Territories

• Ministry of Federal Territories
• Ministry of Federal Territories and Urban Wellbeing

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

• Ministry of External Affairs

Ministry of Finance

• Ministry of Economic Affairs
• Ministry of General Planning and Sosio-Economic Research

Ministry of Home Affairs

• Ministry of Home Affairs and Justice
• Ministry of Internal Security
• Ministry of Justice
• Ministry of Law
• Ministry of the Interior

Ministry of Human Resources

• Ministry of Labour
• Ministry of Labour and Manpower
• Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare

Ministry of International Trade and Industry

• Ministry of Commerce and Industry
• Ministry of Trade and Industry

Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources

• Ministry of Lands and Co-operatives Development
• Ministry of Lands and Mines
• Ministry of Lands Development
• Ministry of Lands and Regional Development
• Ministry of Natural Resources

Ministry of Plantation Industries and Commodities

• Ministry of Primary Industries

Ministry of Rural and Regional Development

• Ministry of National and Rural Development
• Ministry of Rural Development
• Ministry of Rural Economy Development

Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation

• Ministry of Science, Technology and Environment
• Ministry of Technology, Research and Local Government

Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture

• Ministry of Arts, Culture and Heritage
• Ministry of Culture and Tourism
• Ministry of Culture, Arts and Tourism
• Ministry of National Unity and Community Development
• Ministry of National Unity, Culture, Arts and Heritage
• Ministry of Tourism
• Ministry of Tourism and Culture

Ministry of Housing and Local Government

• Ministry of Housing and Local Government
• Ministry of Housing and New Villages
• Ministry of Housing and Villages Development
• Ministry of Local Government and Environment
• Ministry of Local Government and Federal Territories
• Ministry of Local Government, Housing and Town Planning
• Ministry of Technology, Research and Coordination of New Villages
• Ministry of Urban Wellbeing, Housing and Local Government

Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development

• Ministry of General Welfare
• Ministry of National Unity
• Ministry of Social Welfare
• Ministry of Welfare Services
• Ministry of Women and Family Development

Ministry of Works

• Ministry of Works and Energy
• Ministry of Works and Public Amenities
• Ministry of Works and Transport
• Ministry of Works, Posts and Telecommunications

Ministry of Youth and Sports

• Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports
• Ministry of Youth, Culture and Sports

Ministry of Health

• Ministry of Health and Social Welfare

Minister in the Prime Minister's Department

• Minister with Special Functions
• Minister with Special Functions for Foreign Affairs
• Minister without Portfolio

Others

• Chief Minister of Malaya
• Ministry of Sabah Affairs
• Ministry of Sarawak Affairs