Pahang state representative for Muadzam Shah (Rompin) Maznah Madzlan received a surprise promotion when she was announced as one of the three missing deputy ministers in the newly formed cabinet.

maznah mazlan Maznah, who retained her place in the Pahang exco in charge of family and women development, arts, tourism, community development, heritage and traditions on March 27, was upgraded to a deputy minister in the natural resource and environment ministry.

However, as Maznah is not a member of parliament, she will be made a senator first, according to the statement from the Prime Minister's Office today.

She was one of the three new deputy ministers appointed to fill the gaps left by Ghapur Salleh (natural resource and environment), Anifah Aman (transport) and Tengku Azlan Abu Bakar (foreign).

Kudat MP Abd Rahim Bakri and fellow Sabahan Lajim Ukin of Beaufort will occupy the foreign and transport deputy minister positions respectively.

According to the statement, their appointments will take effect after their swearing-in ceremony on April 23 at Istana Negara.

Cabinet hiccups

Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's cabinet, following the March 8 elections, suffered a hiccups of sorts initially when three deputy ministers declined their appointments.

A day after his cabinet was announced on March 18, Tengku Azlan and Anifah met the prime minister to turn down their appointments.

Tengku Azlan said he turned down the opportunity to reprise his portfolio after two terms because he was "not moving up the ladder."

While two-term deputy minister Anifah said he wanted to make way for a younger person to hold the post.

Anifah is the younger brother of Sabah Chief Minister Musa Aman.

Eight days after accepting his appointment, the cabinet lost its third deputy minister when Ghapur quit his post.

The Kalabakan MP said "I just want to do my own thing".

"I'm however the Umno chief for Kalabakan and I do not want people to speculate as to my commitment to Umno and Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi," said Ghapur.