Umno vice-president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has been named as the new number two and would also retain the home ministry portfolio.
Speculation had been rife that Muhyiddin, who is also Umno deputy president, would be axed due to his critical remarks regarding the 1MDB imbroglio.
Also axed is another vocal critic of 1MDB Mohd Shafie Apdal.
The Umno vice-president from Sabah was the rural and regional development minister.
A new appointment to the cabinet is Salleh Said Keruak, who is the current Sabah state assembly speaker.
The staunch Najib supporter, who often defends the prime minister on his blog, is the new communication and multimedia minister.
He replaces Ahmad Shabery Cheek who would now oversee the agriculture and agro-based industry portfolio.
Najib was flanked by Zahid when the new cabinet announcement was made at the Prime Minister's Office in Putrajaya.
Najib said he hoped the new cabinet line-up would committ to the programmes underlined by his BN government adding the Yang di Pertuan Agong would preside over their oath-taking ceremony at 10am tomorrow at the Istana Negara.
The announcement, carried live over television, saw the dropping of five ministers and the appointment of seven new ministers.
New federal ministers
- Wilfred Madius Tangau (science, technology and innovation minister)
New deputy ministers
- Mohd Johari Baharum (deputy defence minister)
- Senator Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki (deputy minister in the Prime Minister's Department [religious affairs])
- Reezal Merican Naina Merican (deputy foreign minister)
- Masri anak Kujat - deputy home minister
Dropped ministers
The ministers dropped were:
- Muhyiddin Yassin (formely deputy prime minister/education minister)
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