Ismail Sabri clocks in as prime minister

Ismail Sabri Yaakob began his official work as prime minister at Perdana Putra in Putrajaya today.

He arrived at the main block of Perdana Putra, which houses the Prime Minister’s Office, at about 8.25am where he was greeted by Chief Secretary to the Government Mohd Zuki Ali and Senior Deputy Secretary-General of the Prime Minister’s Department Jamil Rakon.

Also present were Public Service director-general Mohd Khairul Adib Abd Rahman, Attorney-General Idrus Harun, Inspector-General of Police Acryl Sani Abdullah Sani and Malaysian Armed Forces Chief General Affendi Buang.

Ismail clocked in at his office at Level Five of the Perdana Putra building, after which came the reading of prayers by the Prime Minister’s Department Integrity officer Muhd Redza Ahmad.

Ismail, 61, took his oath of office as Malaysia’s ninth prime minister on Saturday.

His appointment received the consent of Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah in accordance with Articles 40(2)(a) and 43(2)(a) of the Federal Constitution.

Today, Ismail is scheduled to make his first official working visit to the Kuala Muda and Yan districts in Kedah to check on the latest situation in areas affected by floods following a water surge incident in Gunung Jerai last Wednesday.

The floods have claimed five victims so far while another is still missing.

About 800 houses in Yan and another 200 in Kuala Muda were also affected by the disaster.

In his maiden speech as prime minister yesterday, Ismail introduced the concept of the “Malaysian Family” by urging the people of various religions, races and ethnicities to help the nation recover from the current economic and health situation.