Is Our New Cabinet Cut-out for “Reformasi”?

Malaysia needs a stable government that can bring about reforms. Can Prime Minister (PM) Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s first Cabinet line-up do that? Generally there seems to be a sense of disappointment after all the inspiring and hard hitting speeches about reforms. Cabinet appointments were not to be made in exchange for support. But his first call has reached 28 ministers. Did Pakatan Harapan (PH) chairman accept what was demanded by his unity government partners?

The key question moving forward as Anwar rolls out his promised reforms is whether his unity government and Cabinet will stick by him, and provide stability, innovation and much needed changes.

Source: https://www.thestar.com.my

The most critiqued appointment was that of Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and Tengku Zafrul. The new DPM is to forge unity even though he faces several corruption cases. The surprise dark horse is Tengku Zafrul who lost his contest but made his way into the Cabinet. Why? Stellar record? Connections? Only the PM can answer that! MITI needs someone who gets things done, not some PR man!

On Saturday, after the swearing-in ceremony, a crowd waited for him (Zaful) to do what Bernama described in a video clip as: “menyumpurnakan majlis simbolik ‘clock-in’ sempena hari pertama beliau bertugas” (Officiating a symbolic clock-in ceremony to mark his first day in office). Was this ceremony necessary? Even if it was, couldn’t it have waited till Monday? Or was it a carry-forward of the campaigning period when candidates moved around with a train of supporters?

Was this all done at his request by some senior official who is used to taking orders from politicians and is someone who wanted to curry favour and show his ability to marshal his

subordinates at short notice?

However, there are some good appointments. Datuk Dr Mohd Na’im Mokhtar is named as a Minister in the PM’s Department in-charge of religious affairs. He is a distinguished scholar, jurist, has an impressive CV, and has done stints at Harvard and Oxford. He is best placed to moderate the race and religious rhetoric used by the opposition.

Minister in the PM’s Department in-charge of economy Rafizi Ramli would oversee the Economic Planning Unit (EPU), and the huge development budget for projects and contracts.

Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail who is named minister for the powerful Home Affairs Ministry is calm and measured. 

There are others who would be useful for reform and innovation – Yeo Bee Yin, Gobind Singh Deo and Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad. But alas they are going to be missed for now! DAP has been magnanimous in their victory, an example for others to follow.

Whatever and whoever is appointed, the ultimate result is what matters – reformasi! Will we have that?

References:

It’s a Cabinet of uninspiring compromise! Dr Raman Letchumanan, Focus Malaysia, 

3 December 2022

Comment: Anwar’s Cabinet starting on the wrong foot? R. Nadeswaran, Malaysiakini, 

4 December 2022