Political Secretary (Malaysia)
Political Secretary (Malay: Setiausaha Politik) is a constitutional office in Malaysia. As a member of the Federal Government, a Political Secretary is appointed by the Prime Minister[1] either on his own choice or on the advice of a Minister.
Duties and responsibilities
[edit]There has been no clear description of duties and responsibilities of a Political Secretary. In general, however, a Political Secretary is tasked to assist political duties of a Minister and provide the latter with appropriate advice on political situations in such constituency, such state or Malaysia at large. Chief Political Secretary to the Chief Minister of Sarawak, Abdullah Saidol explained that a Political Secretary is expected to heed, support and inform to the people, development policies and programmes planned by the Government.[2]
Political secretaries to the Anwar Ibrahim cabinet
[edit]As of 27 January 2023[update], the following individuals have been appointed as political secretaries to the Anwar Ibrahim cabinet. They have served since December 2022. Presently, there have been 38 political secretaries serving the Prime Minister, Deputy Prime Ministers and Ministers.[3][4][5][6][7]
| Portfolio | Officeholders | Took offices | Left offices |
|---|---|---|---|
| Political Secretary to Prime Minister | Chan Ming Kai | 1 December 2022 | Incumbent |
| Shamsul Iskandar Md. Akin (senior) | 23 December 2022 | ||
| Ahmad Farhan Fauzi | |||
| Azman Abidin | 6 January 2023 | ||
| Political Secretary to Deputy Prime Ministers | Jamal Norubit Nerubi | ||
| Political Secretary to Deputy Prime Minister & Minister of Rural and Regional Development | Megat Zulkarnain Omardin | December 2022/January 2023 | |
| Political Secretary to Deputy Prime Minister & Minister of Energy Transition and Water Transformation | Irwan Zulkarnain Hasbie | ||
| Mikai Mandau | |||
| Political Secretary to Minister of Rural and Regional Development | Mohd Razlan Muhamad Rafi | 6 January 2023 | |
| Political Secretary to Minister of Plantation and Commodities | Rizalman Mokhtar | February 2024 | |
| Political Secretary to Minister of Energy Transition and Water Transformation | Hamzah Brahim | 27 January 2023 | |
| Political Secretary to Minister of Finance | Muhammad Kamil Abdul Munim | ||
| Political Secretary to Minister of Works | Ambrose Abong Bugek | December 2022/January 2023 | |
| Political Secretary to Minister of Education | Atiqah Syairah Shaharuddin | 6 January 2023 | |
| Political Secretary to Minister of Transport | Ho Weng Wah | September 2023 | |
| Political Secretary to Minister of Foreign Affairs | Ton Zalani Mat Darus | 27 January 2023 | |
| Political Secretary to Minister of Human Resources | Kelvin Yii Lee Wuen | 22 April 2024 | |
| Political Secretary to Minister of Consumer Affairs and Domestic Trade | Mohammad Ghazali Hajiji | 6 January 2023 | |
| Political Secretary to Minister of Agriculture and Food Security | Yuhaizad Abdullah | 27 January 2023 | |
| Political Secretary to Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Sustainability | Mohd Syazwan Rahimy Mohd Mokhtar | 6 January 2023 | |
| Political Secretary to Minister of Home Affairs | Yahya Shaari | 22 April 2024 | |
| Political Secretary to Minister of International Trade and Industry | Zainuri Zainal | 11 October 2023 | |
| Political Secretary to Minister of Defence | Mohammad Khairi A. Malik | 6 January 2023 | |
| Political Secretary to Minister of Higher Education | Ahmad Zharif Ahmad Kamal | 27 January 2023 | |
| Political Secretary to Minister of Women, Family and Community Development | Mohammed Kamaluddin Effendie | December 2022/January 2023 | |
| Political Secretary to Minister of Communication | Abdullah Izhar Yusof | ||
| Political Secretary to Minister of Housing and Local Government | Chaw Kam Foon | February 2024 | |
| Political Secretary to Minister of Digital | Suresh Singh | 22 April 2024 | |
| Political Secretary to Minister of Health | Faisal Ismail | February 2024 | |
| Political Secretary to Minister of Federal Territories | Nor Azrina Surip | February 2024 | |
| Political Secretary to Minister of National Unity | Stephen William | 27 January 2023 | |
| Political Secretary to Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation | Ooi Tze Min | December 2022/January 2023 | |
| Political Secretary to Minister of Economy | Che Zam Hamzah | 6 January 2023 | |
| Political Secretary to Minister of Foreign Affairs | Akmal Zharif Ahmad Kamal | 27 January 2023 | |
| Political Secretary to Minister of Law and Institutional Reforms | Suraya Yaacob | ||
| Political Secretary to Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture | Lee Seang Hock | December 2022/January 2023 | |
| Political Secretary to Minister of Entrepreneurship Development and Cooperative | Carl Douglas Victor Moosom | 6 January 2023 | |
| Political Secretary to Minister of Youth and Sports | Yap Yee Vonne | 27 January 2023 | |
| Political Secretary to Minister of Religious Affairs | Muhammad Razak Idris | 6 January 2023 |
Political secretaries to the Ismail Sabri cabinet
[edit]The following individuals were appointed as political secretaries to the Ismail Sabri cabinet.[8] They served from September or November 2021 to the dissolution of the cabinet in November 2022. There were 32 political secretaries serving the Prime Minister, Senior Ministers and Ministers.[9]
| Portfolio | Office holder | Took offices | Left offices |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prime Minister's Political Secretary | Syed Mohd Fahmi Sayid Mohammad | 27 September 2021 / November 2021 | 24 November 2022 |
| Mohammad Anuar Mohd Yunus | |||
| Khairulnizam bin Mohamad Zuldin | |||
| Political Secretary to Senior Minister, Ministry of International Trade and Industry | Muhammad Hilman Idham | ||
| Political Secretary to Senior Minister, Ministry of Defence | Abd Halim bin Abd Jalil | ||
| Political Secretary to Minister of Finance | Haji Rizam bin Haji Ismail | ||
| Political Secretary to Senior Minister, Ministry of Works | Hamzah Brahim | ||
| Political Secretary to Senior Minister, Ministry of Education | Fadli Hafiz Mohd Yusoff | ||
| Political Secretary to Minister of Transport | Ling Tian Soon | ||
| Political Secretary to Minister of Human Resources | Khamarulazlan Mohamad Hanafiah | ||
| Political Secretary to Minister of Sabah and Sarawak Affairs | Jonnybone J. Kurum | ||
| Political Secretary to Minister of Agriculture and Food Industries | Zulkifli bin Mohd Alwi | ||
| Political Secretary to Minister of Environment and Water | Dr. Mohd. Zuhdi Marsuki | ||
| Political Secretary to Minister of Home Affairs | Mohamed Farid bin Mohamed Zawawi | ||
| Political Secretary to Minister of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs | - | ||
| Political Secretary to Minister of Energy and Natural Resources | Mohd Syahir bin Che Sulaiman | ||
| Political Secretary to Minister of Higher Education | Shah Headan Ayoob Hussain Shah | ||
| Political Secretary to Minister of Women, Family and Community Development | Mohd Ariffin bin Mohd Razid | ||
| Political Secretary to Minister of Communications and Multimedia | Budiman Mohd Zohdi | ||
| Political Secretary to Minister of Housing and Local Government | Ahmad Darus | ||
| Political Secretary to Minister of Health | Megat Firdouz Megat Junid | ||
| Political Secretary to Minister of National Unity | Haliza Abdullah | ||
| Political Secretary to Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation | Norshida Ibrahim | ||
| Political Secretary to Minister for the Economy | Zahari Kechik | ||
| Political Secretary to Minister of Foreign Affairs | Muhammad Mujahidin Zulkifli | ||
| Political Secretary to Minister of Plantation Industries and Commodities | Nor Hizwan Ahmad | ||
| Political Secretary to Minister for Special Functions | Muhammad Islahuddin bin Abas | ||
| Political Secretary to Minister for Parliament and Law | Syed Hamzah Syed Paie | ||
| Political Secretary to Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture | Mohammed Kamaluddin Hj. Mohd Effendie | ||
| Political Secretary to Minister of Rural Development | Muhamad Nur Aizat bin Noor Azam | ||
| Political Secretary to Minister of Entrepreneurship Development and Cooperative | Kamaruzzaman bin Johari | ||
| Political Secretary to Minister of Federal Territories | - | ||
| Political Secretary to Minister of Youth and Sports | Mohd Hafez Mubin bin Mohd Salleh | ||
| Political Secretary to Minister for Religious Affairs | Wan Rohimi Wan Daud |
State level
[edit]State governments have appointed Political Secretaries as well. Appointment of state political secretaries, however, determined by the state through enactments and decisions of state executive council or cabinet. Roles and responsibilities of a state political secretary is similar to those of a federal political secretary.
Peninsular Malaysia
[edit]In states of Peninsular Malaysia, a Political Secretary is appointed by the head of respective State Government and serves political affairs of the latter only.
Sabah
[edit]In Sabah, each Minister is provided with a Political Secretary appointed by the Chief Minister on the advice of such Minister. Only Chief Minister can appoint up to four Political Secretaries for himself.
Sarawak
[edit]Chief Minister Abang Johari Openg has 32 political secretaries all over Sarawak.[2]
References
[edit]- ^ "Setiausaha-setiausaha Politik". Bahagian Pasca Perkhidmatan, Jabatan Perkhidmatan Awam (in Malay). Retrieved 4 September 2018.
- ^ a b "Setiausaha politik perlu fahami, sebar program pembangunan kepada rakyat". Utusan Borneo (Sarawak) (in Malay). 2017-07-21. Retrieved 2018-09-05.
- ^ "Menyaksikan Majlis Angkat Sumpah Simpan Rahsia 13 Setiausaha Politik kepada Menteri Kabinet di Putrajaya pagi tadi". Facebook. 6 January 2023. Retrieved 8 January 2023.
- ^ "Thirteen new pol-secs sworn-in on Jan 6, says Anwar". The Star. 6 January 2023. Retrieved 8 January 2023.
- ^ "Nilai rep Arul Kumar appointed Transport Minister's pol-sec". The Star. 26 January 2023. Retrieved 26 January 2023.
- ^ "Menyaksikan Majlis Angkat Sumpah Simpan Rahsia 10 Setiausaha Politik kepada Menteri Kabinet di Putrajaya pagi tadi". Facebook. 27 January 2023. Retrieved 28 January 2023.
- ^ "10 political secretaries to Cabinet ministers take oaths of secrecy". The Star. 27 January 2023. Retrieved 28 January 2023.
- ^ "22 setiausaha politik menteri angkat sumpah simpan rahsia". Berita Harian. 2021-09-27. Retrieved 2021-10-18.
- ^ "Setiusaha Politik". Bahagian Kabinet, Perlembagaan dan Perhubungan antara Kerajaan JPM. 2021-11-22. Retrieved 2021-11-22.