PM to skip Cabinet swearing-in after close contact with Covid patient

Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob will be unable to attend the swearing-in ceremony of his Cabinet this afternoon as he is self-isolating after coming into close contact with a Covid-19 patient.

The Prime Minister’s Office in a statement added that Ismail would attend tomorrow’s Merdeka celebrations at Dataran Pahlawan Negara in Putrajaya in a virtual capacity.

The swearing-in ceremony is scheduled to take place at Istana Negara at 2.30pm before Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah.

A total of 31 ministers and 38 deputy ministers had been expected to take their oath of office.

However, Kimanis MP Mohamad Alamin, who was named as deputy education minister in Ismail’s Cabinet line-up, said earlier today that he had tested positive for Covid-19 and would not be able to attend the ceremony.