KUCHING: Any party or coalition that has been ‘left out’ of Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s Cabinet and the deputy ministers line-up can be expected to get positions in various government and government-linked companies.
In making this argument Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) political scientist Prof Datuk Dr Jayum Jawan said in the competitive new Malaysian politics where no one single party or a coalition wins or has the majority, every bit of support was valuable and the consequent reward a reality.
He said that was what happened in the post 14th General Election (GE14) in 2018, where the former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad needed to balance and appreciate.
“But Mahathir failed as he was used to being an authoritarian hand, dishing out what he intended and not what was expected,” he said.
“The tradition of being rewarded went on to haunt the next two prime ministers, thus, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin and Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob had a large Cabinet to accommodate supporters in order to keep intact their respective government,” he told New Sarawak Tribune when contacted on today (Dec 10).
Jayum, who is also a Fellow of the Academy of Sciences, Malaysia said, Anwar will have a hard time keeping the slim parliamentary support he now commands as dissatisfied Members of Parliament (MPs) will be easy for his opponents to lure to their side by making an offer of Cabinet appointment.
“But as the prime minister, Anwar is open to many resources that he still can use to keep his support, although these may not be as prestigious as being in the cabinet.
“He could keep them by appointing them to various government and government-linked companies such as chairmanship and members of Boards of Directors,” he said.
Jayum was commenting on six MPs from Sarawak, all from Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS), who have been named deputy ministers in the unity government on Friday.
They were Datuk Rubiah Wang (PBB) for Rural and Regional Development Ministry, Datuk Hasbi Habibollah (PBB) for Transport, Datuk Hanifah Taib (PBB) for Economy, Dato Sri Huang Tiong Sii (SUPP) for Natural Resources, Environment and Climate Change, Lukanisman Awang Sauni (PBB) for Health and Datuk Wilson Ugak Kumbong (PRS) for Prime Minister’s Department.
Meanwhile, none from Sarawak DAP, which had won five parliamentary seats in the GE15, was appointed to hold any deputy minister post as well as full minister post.
Jayum opined that deputy ministers would be “just that – deputy” who takes over the responsibilities to attend cabinet meetings when their bosses (full minister) are away or are unable.
As for full ministers, he said, they are powerful because they are responsible for mapping what and how the work under their responsibilities is going to be carried out.
They would be the ones making decisions for the nation, and will therefore be exposed to and be in the know of what is going on in the country.
“But, it must also be remembered that a federal minister is meant for Malaysia and not for any particular aspect such as for Chinese, Dayak or for a region.
“He or she has to think about Malaysia and not Sarawak just because he or she is from Sarawak. It is a wrong perception that Sarawak infrastructure, for instance, will be progressing beyond expectation following the appointment of Kapit MP Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi as Works Minister.
“He takes care of Pan Borneo but he also needs to take care of public works throughout the country,” he added.
