Losers Become Winners In Anwar’s 28-Minister Cabinet
A struggling Umno is seen as the biggest winner in Anwar’s unity Cabinet lineup.
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Three politicians lost in the recently concluded 15th General Election but were appointed as ministers by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
One is from PKR who is Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail (Minister of Home Affairs), and the others are from Umno, namely Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Tengku Aziz (Minister of International Trade and Industry) and Datuk Seri Zambry Abdul Kadir (Minister of Foreign Affairs).
But all three have been given cabinet positions and appointed as Senators today (3 December) before Dewan Negara Speaker Tan Sri Rais Yatim.
The Federal Constitution’s Article 43(2)(b) requires that ministers either be members of the Dewan Rakyat or the Dewan Negara.
Ds Zahid Hamidi yg berhadapan 47 kes jenayah & rasuah jadi TPM?
— Muhammad HafizRayyan (@HafizRayyan) December 2, 2022
Tengku Zafrul bank jaga bank pun jadi menteri lagi?
Nga Kor Ming pun jadi menteri? Khaled Nordin warload UMNO jadi menteri pengajian tinggi?
Apa pun Hannah Yeoh, Antony Loke jadi menteri kita sokong 101%!
Pengkhianatan paling besar terhadap demokrasi dan mandat rakyat ialah bila yang kalah jadi menteri, yang menang gigit jari.
— Alang Ibn Shukrimun (@AlangShukrimun) December 3, 2022
Padahal Dr Dzul tu ex menteri dari parti sama dengan PM. Zafrul pula ex menteri yang selalu kena kutuk oleh PH.
Adakah Anwar Trojan Horse UMNO dalam PH? pic.twitter.com/ynvzVuQORI
In contrast, Amanah’s Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad, who defeated Tengku Zafrul in Kuala Selangor, was not appointed a minister.
Some said Dr Dzulkefly should have been reinstated as Health Minister, given his background.
Dr Dzul, Amanah’s strategic director, had also served as Health Minister under the previous Pakatan Harapan government.
On the other hand, some pointed out that the new Health Minister, PKR women leader Dr Zaliha Mustafa, is a qualified doctor from Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM).
Sebelum google:
— Januar Haikal (@Januarhaikal) December 2, 2022
Tak sekarang ni Zaliha Mustafa ni siapa? Dan kenapa bukan Dr.Dzul yang jadi menteri kesihatan?
Selepas google:
Zaliha Mustafa ni pon doktor juga rupanya so make sense la juga appointed as menteri kesihatan.
Dr Zaliha was congratulated by many, including former health minister Khairy Jamaluddin.
Tahniah YB Dr @Zaliha_DrZ atas pelantikan sebagai Menteri @KKMPutrajaya yang baharu. Semoga berjaya & terus berjuang untuk sistem kesihatan awam yang cemerlang dan mendapat peruntukan yang setimpal dengan usaha gigih warga KKM. All the best!
— Khairy Jamaluddin 🇲🇾🌺 (@Khairykj) December 2, 2022
Umno, The Biggest Winner
Umno is said to be the biggest beneficiary of the Cabinet lineup with six ministers.
It will be a much-needed lifeline for UMNO, which is on a decline, especially its embattled president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
With the latest development, it is likely the president will triumph in the upcoming Umno party elections, which will be held within six months from now.
Ahmad Zahid has been appointed Deputy Prime Minister with Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) leader Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof.
In addition, Ahmad Zahid was also appointed as Minister of Rural and Regional Development.
Ahmad Zahid’s appointment raised many eyebrows because he is in defence against 47 charges.
The accusation includes an alleged criminal breach of trust of RM31 million belonging to the charitable foundation Yayasan Akalbudi.
READ MORE: [UPDATED WITH FULL LIST] Anwar Announces Cabinet Line-Up, Zahid Makes DPM
Sejak mula kerajaan Perikatan Nasional terbentuk (1/3/2020), DS Zahid Hamidi sudah jadi ‘kluster mahkamah’ (19/10/2018) kerana didakwa dengan 47 pertuduhan; 12 kes pecah amanah, 8 kes rasuah dan 27 kes pengubahan wang haram babitkan puluhan juta ringgit milik Yayasan Akalbudi. pic.twitter.com/927sPfpACw
— Faizal Riduan (@faizalriduan) December 2, 2022
Unequal Distribution?
DAP won 40 seats and is the biggest party in PH, but they got only four Cabinet posts.
UMNO won only 22 Parliamentary seats, but they got seven minister slots, including the Deputy Prime Minister post.
Netizens complained that despite staying faithful to PKR through thick and thin, DAP was handed ‘non-critical’ portfolios.
— Fahmi Reza (@kuasasiswa) December 2, 2022
I m So DISAPPOINTED, FEELING BETRAYED with the announced cabinet list. DAP after fighting with PKR, barely received 4 appointment, and yet not on critical minister portfolio.
— SU TOFF (@SuToff) December 3, 2022
WORSE – UMNO LANUN received more appointment than DAP while zero cabinet appointment for MUDA !
At the same time, netizens urged outspoken DAP leader Nga Kor Ming to be cautious with his statement moving forward.
The Teluk Intan MP, also state assemblyman for Kepayang in Perak, has been named the Local Government Minister.
Netizens hope Nga will tread carefully on sensitive issues such as 999-year land titles for new village folks.
Please remind @NgaKorMing you are minister now under scrutiny 24/7. Not a DAP member in opposition. Mind your words and act. Don’t over do things. Don’t need to justify either. Please learn from @anthonyloke. Perfect example less talk more work.
— POLITIKUS JAHANAM 🇲🇾🏴 (@stentorpplvoice) December 3, 2022
Expected. Memang berisiko untuk dia / DAP pegang jawatan KPKT. Banyak isu2 yang berkaitan KPKT dikaitkan dengan DAP dimainkan oleh musuh sebelum ni
— Saifullah Al-BotaKiri ⚪🟡⚫ (@SaifulAdn) December 3, 2022
Contoh tanah 999 tahun, pilihanraya kerajaan tempatan. Nga jangan bagi bola tanggung dah.
Fair And Just Selection
In about three weeks, the Parliament is expected to table a motion of confidence to reaffirm Anwar’s premiership.
Ahmad Zahid has signalled he and his coalition will back Anwar on 19 December during the vote.
Anwar has said the Cabinet appointment should not be seen as rewarding political partners in exchange for support.
He reiterated they should support him based on his policies and efforts towards good governance and his commitment to anti-corruption drive and resuscitating the economy.
1. “I don’t want to continue with this extravagant manner of appointing ministers as a form of reward,” says prime minister Anwar Ibrahim.
— BFM News (@NewsBFM) November 27, 2022
He says the government should not be seen as rewarding political masters, and that special envoys will be considered only when necessary. https://t.co/Q7wMxxF54g pic.twitter.com/03uT9bEc2I
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