Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad is considering a suitable candidate to be a deputy to Defence Minister Mohamad Sabu.

A deputy minister would help facilitate the administration at the ministry, Mohamad told reporters at an Aidilfitri open house of the Malaysian Armed Forces at Wisma Perwira.

Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Muhammad V, attended the open house.

Asked whether the deputy defence minister would be someone who would be sworn in as a senator first, Mohamad said it could be so.

Thirteen cabinet ministers and 23 deputy ministers were sworn in at Istana Negara yesterday.

- Bernama