PUTRAJAYA: The Cabinet is expected to have its meeting around noon on Wednesday (Aug 4), with members to attend the meeting physically this time.

       This will be the first physical meeting by the Cabinet in months.

       Due to Covid-19 concerns, the weekly meetings have been held virtually.

       Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin is expected to have an audience with the Yang di-Pertuan Agong at the Istana Negara at 11am.

       Attorney General Tan Sri Idrus Harun is also expected to seek an audience with the King.

       The Cabinet meeting later is expected to have a slightly smaller attendance with several ministers not present.

       Umno’s Datuk Seri Shamsul Anuar Nasarah has resigned from his Cabinet post as Energy and Natural Resources Minister on Tuesday (Aug 3).

       Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan is in hospital due to heart ailment.

       Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Seri Reezal Merican Naina Merican is with the Malaysian team competing in the Tokyo Olympics.

       On Tuesday, 11 lawmakers from Umno had retracted their support for the Perikatan Nasional government and Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin as Prime Minister and statutory declarations from them had been presented to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.

       With Shamsul Annuar’s resignation, Umno has eight other ministers in the Perikatan administration, including the Deputy Prime Minister's post held by Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob who is also Defence Minister.

       Others are Senior Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein (Foreign), Khairy Jamaluddin (Science,Technology and Innovation), Datuk Seri Dr Adham Baba (Health), Datuk Seri Dr Noraini Ahmad (Higher Education), Datuk Halimah Sadique (National Unity) and Tan Sri Annuar Musa (Federal Territories) and Datuk Seri Reezal Merican Naina Merican (Youth and Sports).

       On top of that, Umno has eight deputy ministers.

       Earlier, Inspector-General of Police Datuk Seri Acryl Sani Abdullah Sani and Armed Forces Chief Tan Sri Affendi Buang were seen entering the Perdana Putra building.

       They are believed to have a meeting with Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Mohd Zuki Ali.