MCA gets more reps in cabinet, MIC loses one

KUALA LUMPUR: The Cabinet reshuffle today gave the MCA an additional ministerial post but MIC lost one.
The MCA also got another deputy minister post. MCA Secretary-General Datuk Seri Ong Ka Chuan was appointed Second International Trade and Industry Minister while Youth chief Chong Sin Woon was made Deputy Education Minister.
Prior to this appointment, Ong, who is the Member of Parliament for Tanjung Malim, had served a stint as the Housing and Local Governments Minister from March 2008 to April 2009 during Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's administration.
Former MIC president Datuk Seri G. Palanivel was dropped, leaving acting MIC president Datuk Seri S. Subramainiam the sole MIC representative in the new cabinet line-up.
With the latest line-up, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak's administration now has three full ministers and three deputy ministers from MCA.
They are party president Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai (Transport Minister) and deputy president Datuk Seri Wee Ka Siong (Minister in the Prime Minister's Department), and Ong.
The other two deputy ministers from MCA besides Chong are Deputy Finance Minister Datuk Chua Tee Yong and and Deputy International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Lee Chee Leong.
Meanwhile, Transport Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai, who is also MCA president said he was thankful for the appointment of another minister and deputy minister, from the party.
"From MCA's point of view, the appointments have met the criteria and requirements of the Chinese community in the country, because the Ministry of International Trade and Industry and the Ministry of Education have an association with them.
"With these appointments, MCA will remain committed to providing the best service to the people and ensure that the government's development and transformation agenda is achieved," he said in Mandarin, through a post on his Facebook page, today. – Bernama