Kurup, who hails from the Bornean state of Sabah, takes over the portfolio after a six-month gap in NRES having a full time minister. Former minister Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad resigned in May after losing internal party polls and Johari Abdul Ghani, who had held the planations and commodities portfolio, had been acting NRES minister.

The new list of Cabinet ministers was announced by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim on Wednesday in a reshuffle aimed at strengthening policy delivery and reassigning key portfolios within the unity government.

As part of the reshuffle, Johari has been appointed as the minister of Investment, Trade and Industry, previously led by Tengku Zafrul Tengku Wan Aziz, whose term as senator concluded in November. Noraini Ahmad succeeded Johari as minister of Plantations and Commodities, which he held since 2023.

Other notable changes include Akmal Nasrullah Mohd Nasir, former deputy minister of Energy Transition and Water Transformation, who has been elevated to minister of Economy. Akmal’s previous portfolio is now held by Abdul Rahman Mohamad, with deputy prime minister Fadillah Yusof retaining the post of minister of Energy Transition and Water Transformation.

Kurup, the son of late Sabahan politician Joseph Kurup, takes the helm of NRES a month after the ministry published Malaysia’s updated climate targets to the United Nations ahead of the COP30 climate talks. The latest target sets an absolute emissions reduction target by 2035, compared to a relative target tied to carbon intensity previously.

During his tenure as acting environment minister, Johari had delayed the tabling of Malaysia’s climate change bill, a long-awaited piece of legislation that is expected to underpin the country’s upcoming carbon tax, establish a national climate change fund and support national adaptation efforts.

Prior to his appointment, Kurup served as deputy minister of agriculture and food security. He has also previously held several deputy ministerial roles, including in the science and technology ministry, the works ministry, and the Prime Minister’s Department for economic affairs.

In his new role, he will be assisted by Syed Ibrahim Syed Noh, who is the newly appointed deputy minister of NRES. The post was previously held by Huang Tiong Sii, who has since been moved to the plantation and commodities ministry as deputy minister.

Kurup holds a Bachelor of Laws and a Master of Laws specialising in international trade from Bond University, Australia, as well as a Master of International Economics and Finance from the University of Queensland. He is also the president of the political party, Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah (PBRS).

Before entering active politics, Kurup worked as a trade and legal officer at the World Trade Organization in Geneva, Switzerland and also served as a director at the Sabah Housing and Development Town Board.