Anwar sought to play down the issue, saying the proposal was merely the Raub MP’s personal opinion.

“No one in the government agrees with the proposal, even more so in the Cabinet,” he told reporters after Friday prayers here.

Anwar said the matter of ministerial appointments was solely up to his discretion as prime minister, while non-Muslim religious affairs were already under the purview of national unity minister Aaron Ago Dagang.

“We also have the religious harmony committee chaired by the religious affairs, and national unity ministers, so those channels are sufficient (to look after non-Muslim religious affairs),” he said.

Chow had proposed for two religious affairs ministers in the Prime Minister’s Department – one for Muslims and another for non-Muslims.

This came on the heels of the uproar over proposed guidelines pertaining to Muslims attending non-Muslim festivities, funerals as well as events at non-Muslim places of worship.

He drew backlash from opposition parties as well as leaders of government allies Umno and Amanah, with some claiming his proposal was unconstitutional.

Candidate for US envoy’s post to be brought to Agong

Anwar said he had a candidate for the vacant post of Malaysian ambassador to the US, but declined to reveal the name.

He said he would propose the candidate to Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Ibrahim when he visits the king in Bahrain.

Sultan Ibrahim left for Bahrain last week to seek medical treatment.

The position has been vacant following the completion of former Padang Rengas MP Nazri Aziz’s two-year stint on Feb 8.

Former MP Ong Kian Ming had suggested five names for the post – PKR vice-president Nurul Izzah Anwar, investment, trade and industry minister Tengku Zafrul Aziz, former CIMB group chairman Nazir Razak, ex-MP Yusmadi Yusoff, and Institute of Strategic and International Studies Malaysia chairman Faiz Abdullah.

Ong said the new envoy should have direct access to Anwar, access to key Cabinet members, as well as the ability to engage publicly and privately with key stakeholders in the US power structure.