This article first appeared in The Edge Financial Daily on May 18, 2018

PETALING JAYA: Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad has announced that he would also be the education minister in the cabinet of the new government.

PKR president Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, who has been named the deputy prime minister, would also serve as the women’s affairs and welfare minister, he said at a press conference after a meeting of the Pakatan Harapan presidential council here.

Dr Mahathir said the Pakatan coalition requires more time to name the rest of the cabinet members.

“We have four parties, and we assess whether a candidate is suitable and has the required skill set to fill a ministerial position. If I can finish the work tomorrow (today), I will announce tomorrow. Otherwise, it could be done by the weekend,” he said.

The prime minister said there will be 12 ministers taking their oaths next Monday.

He had previously named Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin as the home minister, DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng as the finance minister and Parti Amanah Negara president Mohamad Sabu (Mat Sabu) as the defence minister.

Several Barisan Nasional leaders pointed out that the Pakatan manifesto had promised that the prime minister would not hold other ministerial posts, Malaysiakini reported.

Pakatan leaders at the presidential council meeting did not object when Dr Mahathir said he wanted the education portfolio, the site said.

Amanah deputy president Salahuddin Ayub, who was present during the meeting, said Pakatan leaders would raise this issue with Dr Mahathir, according to Malaysiakini.

Dr Mahathir said the presidential council meeting also decided that moving forward, there will be 22 members in the council, comprising five representatives from each component party. The two remaining seats will be filled by representatives of women’s and youth groups.

PKR de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim will be among the top six senior members of this council — which comprises each party’s president, with Dr Mahathir as the chairman, holding monthly meetings.

A task force to look into issues affecting the Indian community, youth, women and Orang Asli will also be formed by the government. Led by Dr Mahathir, the task force’s members include Mat Sabu and Muhyiddin.