PETALING JAYA: Ministers have clocked in for their duties, with some returning to their old offices while others starting on their new portfolios.

       Also on board was Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong who clocked in as the Transport Minister yesterday.

       In a Facebook posting, Dr Wee, who also held the same portfolio under former prime minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin’s administration, said he started his first day together with deputy minister Datuk Henry Sum Agong at the ministry in Putrajaya.

       Dr Wee was welcomed by Transport secretary-general Datuk Isham Ishak, Road Transport Department director-general Datuk Zailani Hashim and other top officials.

       Previously, Dr Wee had said that his top priority would be ensuring that his ministry’s initiatives would continue to benefit the people amid the pandemic while helping to revive the economy.

       “I will do my best to ensure that the Transport Ministry continues to move forward and benefit the people and the country.

       “There is nothing more important at this time but to ensure that the Malaysian Family can get out of the Covid-19 pandemic and that the country’s economy is restored,” he added.

       Cabinet ministers and deputy ministers were sworn in and took their oaths of office, loyalty and secrecy before the Yang di-Pertuan Agong at Istana Negara on Aug 30.

       The Cabinet line-up was announced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob last Friday, seven days after he took the oath of office as the ninth Prime Minister before His Majesty on Aug 20.

       Bernama quoted Foreign Minister Datuk Saifuddin Abdullah as saying that on his first day in office, his immediate task was to establish the foreign policy framework for the new administration that would provide guidance on Malaysia’s direction and focus on foreign policy.

       Datuk Seri Dr Adham Baba, who started his tenure at the Science, Technology and Innovation Ministry, said his main focus was to promote economics of innovation.

       This, he said, included planning innovative methods that would enhance the economy of the people and in turn, contribute to the world through the exporting of science and technology.