Anwar keeping religious affairs portfolio apolitical, say analysts

Free Malaysia Today

They say this is a wise move given the highly sensitive nature of the portfolio.  Read More: https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2025/12/19/anwar-keeping-religious-affairs-portfolio-apolitical-say-analysts  Free Malaysia Today is an independent, bi-lingual news portal with a focus on Malaysian current affairs.    Subscribe to our channel - http://bit.ly/2Qo08ry   ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Check us out at https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com Follow FMT on Facebook: https://bit.ly/49JJoo5 Follow FMT on Dailymotion: https://bit.ly/2WGITHM Follow FMT on X: https://bit.ly/48zARSW  Follow FMT on Instagram: https://bit.ly/48Cq76h Follow FMT on TikTok : https://bit.ly/3uKuQFp Follow FMT Berita on TikTok: https://bit.ly/48vpnQG  Follow FMT Telegram - https://bit.ly/42VyzMX Follow FMT LinkedIn - https://bit.ly/42YytEb Follow FMT Lifestyle on Instagram: https://bit.ly/42WrsUj Follow FMT on WhatsApp: https://bit.ly/49GMbxW  ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Download FMT News App: Google Play – http://bit.ly/2YSuV46 App Store – https://apple.co/2HNH7gZ Huawei AppGallery - https://bit.ly/2D2OpNP  #FMTNews

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00:00Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim appears intent on keeping the religious affairs portfolio apolitical

00:07based on the recent cabinet reshuffle, according to analysts.

00:11Academy Nusantara's Azmi Hassan said the promotion of Zulkifli Hassan to religious affairs minister

00:17and Mahama Rosli's appointment as his deputy showed that Anwar wanted to keep the portfolio free

00:23from the liabilities of political parties.

00:26Zulkifli, a senator, was an academic with International Islamic University Malaysia

00:32while Mahama is a religious teacher.

00:35Shaza Shukri of IIUM said the portfolio was highly sensitive and risky

00:40given pastor's strength in delivering religious narratives which add pressure on the government.

00:46A central Amana youth leader had asked why none of the party's leaders were considered for the portfolio

00:52citing candidates such as Amana Deputy President Mujahid Yusof Rawah

00:57who served as Religious Affairs Minister from 2018 to 2020.

01:02However, Shaza said Amana lacked the bargaining power to lobby for additional posts in the government

01:08especially the religious affairs portfolio given its importance.

01:12Mirato, FMT.

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