KUCHING: The Sarawak Associated Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (ACCCIS) welcomes the appointments of Rafizi Ramli and Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz as Ministers of Economic Affairs and International Trade and Industry, respectively.
Its secretary-general Datuk Jonathan Chai noted that both figures had acquired invaluable experience in the corporate sector before joining politics.
As such, the chamber hopes that Rafizi and Zafrul could come up with pragmatic approaches and sound policies to transform the country’s economy by making Malaysia a favourite destination for foreign investors.
Having said that, Chai added that the chamber hopes the newly-minted ministers could restore Malaysia’s past glories as being one of the four dragons of Asia again in terms of economic prosperity.
He was making remarks on the new cabinet lineup by the Prime Minister (PM) Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim yesterday (Dec 2).
“More importantly, we hope that the new government could come up with immediate measures to tackle the problems of inflation and to curb the rising costs of living effectively,” he said to New Sarawak Tribune.
“Contrary to the manifesto of Pakatan Harapan (PH) in the 2018 general election, where it had pledged that the PM would not hold another ministerial portfolio simultaneously, it’s an irony that Anwar Ibrahim has now made himself the Minister of Finance, and that is expected to attract some criticism.
“However, with his vast experience and glorious track record as the Minister of Finance during the nineties in Mahathir’s administration, Anwar’s helming of the Finance Ministry would likely be accepted favourably by the corporate and business circles.”
On the same note, he asserted that it’s a slimmer cabinet as promised by the prime minister with 28 members.
He noted that eight are from Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR), which was the biggest winner and obtained some of the most important ministries such as finance, home affairs, economic affairs, education, and health.
And Chai personally thinks that the Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) has been fairly treated with five ministers in the lineup.
“Personally, I think GPS has been fairly treated with five ministers in the lineup, with Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof being appointed as one of the Deputy Prime Ministers (DPM) as well as the Minister of Plantation and Commodities.
“It’s good for Sarawak to retain the Minister of Works, which is now helmed by Datuk Seri Alex Nanta Linggi.
“As a Sarawakian, he can better comprehend the needs of more infrastructure development projects in Sarawak in order to catch up with our counterparts in West Malaysia.
“With Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing being appointed as the Minister of Tourism, I hope he can channel more resources and funding to develop the tourism industry in Sarawak,” he said.
Chai then pointed out, as anticipated, there were negative responses or even anger from some segments of the public on the inclusion of the controversial Datuk Seri Zahid Hamidi into the new lineup.
But in politics, he asserted, reality always outweighs idealism.
“And Anwar needs to appoint Zahid as DPM to contain the rebellious faction within UMNO to keep his unity government afloat,” Chai said.
