Putrajaya: Datuk Mustapha Sakmud has been appointed as the Minister in the Prime Minister's Department responsible for Sabah and Sarawak Affairs in the latest MADANI Government Cabinet reshuffle. The announcement was made by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim during a press conference in Putrajaya.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, the appointment is part of a strategic move to enhance the coordination of policies and the implementation of development agendas in the states of Sabah and Sarawak. Datuk Mustapha, who is the Member of Parliament for Sepanggar, previously served as the Deputy Human Resource Minister in 2022 and was later appointed Deputy Higher Education Minister following the first cabinet reshuffle of the Unity Government in December 2023.

The Sabah and Sarawak Affairs portfolio was created in March 2020 and was initially held by Datuk Seri Dr Maximus Ongkili until 2022. After the 15th General Election, Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali took over the portfolio, serving as Minister in the Prime Minister's Department for Sabah and Sarawak Affairs and Special Tasks. Subsequently, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof was appointed to oversee the affairs of Sabah and Sarawak in the first cabinet reshuffle of 2023.