Senior Minister of Malaysia (Malay: Menteri Kanan Malaysia; Jawi: منتري کانن مليسيا) was the third highest ranking political office within the Malaysian cabinet ranking above a federal minister and below the Deputy Prime Minister[note 2] in Malaysia from March 2020 to November 2022. Former Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin, started the convention of appointing senior ministers into his cabinet. The convention was maintained in the cabinet of his successor, Ismail Sabri Yaakob. His successor Anwar Ibrahim did not follow and instead appointed two Deputy Prime Ministers in his cabinet and abolished the office of Senior Minister. According to Muhyiddin, the office was to deputise for the Prime Minister, similar to the duties of the Deputy Prime Minister. Muhyiddin also named one of the four former Senior Minister Azmin Ali as the Acting Prime Minister during his absence during his term as the Prime Minister. However, during a brief period from 7 July 2021 to 16 August 2021 for 40 days, both offices coexisted. Muhyiddin promoted Ismail Sabri to the Deputy Prime Minister while promoting Hishammuddin Hussein to replace Ismail Sabri as the Senior Minister and retaining all three other Senior Ministers on 7 July 2021, the coexistence ended after the collapse of the Muhyiddin administration on 16 August 2021 as after Ismail Sabri became the Prime Minister, he did not appoint the Deputy Prime Minister and only appointed Senior Ministers.[1][2]
Appointment and power
The cabinet formed under former Prime Minister Muhyiddin in 2020, following the 2020-2021 Malaysian political crisis, was unique as there were no Members of Parliament (MPs) appointed to the post of the Deputy Prime Minister in his current cabinet.[note 3] Instead, he appointed four senior ministers.[3][4]
These senior ministers will assist the prime minister in carrying out his duties as prime minister including chairing cabinet meetings during his absence. Although the four senior ministers were of equal standings, Azmin Ali was designated by the prime minister to preside over the cabinet's meeting in his absence.[5]
These positions were dissolved following the resignation of the cabinet after they had handed in their resignation to the Yang Di-Pertuan Agong on 16 August 2021.[3][4]
^It was the second highest political office from 10 March 2020 to 7 July 2021 and again from 30 August 2021 to 24 November 2022. The office of the Deputy Prime Minister as the second highest level of political office was served in from 7 July 2021 to 16 August 2021. Therefore, the office was demoted in ranking, from the second to the third and hence it was the third highest political office from 7 July 2021 to 16 August 2021.
^As of 7 July 2021, a Deputy Prime Minister has been appointed to his cabinet.
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