Najib is Deputy PM, Cabinet reshuffled

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi reacts to a question after announcing Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak as his deputy at a press conference in Putrajaya, today. - Starpic by Raja Faisal Hishan.

PUTRAJAYA: Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak has been confirmed as the new Deputy Prime Minister today.

His appointment was announced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

Najib also retains the Defence Ministry portfolio.

Abdullah also announced a Cabinet reshuffle.

Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin has been made Agriculture Minister replacing Datuk Seri Dr Effendi Norwawi who is now minister with special functions in the Prime Minister's Department.

Second Finance Minister Datuk Jamaluddin Jarjis is appointed as Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister replacing Muhyiddin.

Economic advisor to the Prime Minister Tan Sri Nor Mohamed Yakcop is now the new Second Finance Minister.

PM announces new appointments [ Real Player | Media Player ]

Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak accepts new appointment [ Real Player | Media Player ]

From left: Tan Sri Nor Mohamed Yakcop is Second Finance Minister; Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin is now Agriculture Minister; Datuk Jamaluddin Jarjis is Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister; and Datuk Seri Dr Effendi Norwawi is Minister with special functions in the Prime Minister's Department.

The following is an earlier report from the print edition

KUALA LUMPUR: Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak will be named as the country’s Deputy Prime Minister today.

An official statement on his appointment will be issued after the Cabinet meeting.

According to Government sources, the Defence Minister received his letter of appointment from Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi yesterday at about 5pm.

The city here was abuzz with reports about his appointment as the ninth Deputy Prime Minister just after 7pm.

It is learnt that Abdullah had called Najib to the Prime Minister’s Department at Kompleks Perdana in Putrajaya just before the Prime Minister was to meet Thai Foreign Minister Dr Surakiart Sathirathai.

Reporters waiting for a press conference by Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar were surprised to see Najib at the PM’s office.

COOL RESPONSE:Najib talking to reporters at his house at 1.10am on the news that he has been appointed as the Deputy Prime Minister.With him is his wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor.—STARpic By KAMAL SELLEHUDDIN

However, when approached by reporters Najib instead gave them a report about Malaysia and Thailand forming joint-patrols following the upsurge of violence at southern Thai border towns.

Later when met at his house at 1.10am as he returned from a farewell dinner for Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, Najib declined to be drawn into making any comments or confirmation.

“I cannot make any statement. This is a prerogative of the Prime Minister,” he said to the handful of journalists and photographers who had been waiting at his residence in Taman Duta here.

“Why don't we just wait for tomorrow (today). I am not going to make any statement,” he said.

Asked of his feelings, Najib laughed, saying that doing that would be confirming the news.

When told that TV stations and news agencies had announced his appointment, Najib said: “They can always quote and they can always deny later. Whatever it is, it did not come from me or from my office.”

Najib, 51, has scored a string of the “youngest” titles throughout his 27-year political career.

He was elected as MP at the age of 23 in 1976. Two years later, he was made a deputy minister (Energy, Telecom and Post) – the youngest ever.

In 1981, he became the youngest Umno Supreme Council member and a year on, the youngest chief minister when he became Mentri Besar of Pahang.

At the age of 32, he was made Culture, Youth and Sports Minister, again, the youngest Cabinet member back in those days.

As the eldest son of Malaysia’s second Prime Minister Tun Abdul Razak Hussein and the nephew of the third Prime Minister Tun Hussein Onn, Najib is often cited for his political blueblood origin.

Born in Kuala Lipis, Pahang, in 1953, Najib received his early education in the elite St John Institution here.

As a teenager, he was sent to England to attend Malven Boy’s College in Worchestershire and he remained in the country to pursue economic studies at the University of Nottingham.

Upon returning to Malaysia at the age of 21, he worked as an executive at Petronas but he was destined to become a politician when two years later he won the Pekan by-election uncontested to fill the seat that fell vacant following his father’s death.

In Umno, he started with the Youth wing and rose to the chairmanship before emerging as one of the top leaders by winning the vice-president's post in 1993.

Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak

Date of Birth: 23 July 1953
Place of Birth: Kuala Lipis, Pahang
Name of wife: Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor
Number of Children: 5

Education:

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