Anwar’s leaner cabinet a challenge to satisfy all party leaders
SHAH ALAM – As newly-minted Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim announces that he will unveil a leaner cabinet with lower salaries for the ministers, many parties have applauds the idea but several also question if it is indeed doable.
Political analysts who spoke to Sinar Daily were of the opinion that a smaller Cabinet would be more effective, however, it would be hard for Anwar to please all party leaders.
Political analyst Professor Dr. Nik Ahmad Kamal said that it would be difficult to please all coalition party leaders due to the coalition's large number of members.
However, he also believed that a small cabinet was optimal due to cost savings and improved monitoring and accountability.
“I believe that each party in the coalition will get the bite of the cherry, at least as deputy ministers and GLCs’ top brass,” he told Sinar Daily.
Dr Nik Ahmad also stated that Malay voters were concerned about non-Malay representation in the cabinet and that the prime minister must take this concern into account.
“Another important aspect is the number of women in the cabinet.
“There should be a reasonable number of women not only to look after the welfare of women and children but also the interest of women voters generally.
Meanwhile, political analyst Ibrahim Suffian said that the prime minister must build a cabinet that widely represent the parties in the government, but more importantly, it must be comprised of competent and reputable persons.
Ibrahim further claimed that according to the conditions of the agreement between PH and BN, the numbers would be proportional to the number of seats each party holds in the legislature.
“Our hope is that they are filled by capable men and women, with the main criteria being competence and not based entirely on appeasement,” he said.
Meanwhile, another political analyst Associate Professor Mohd Azizuddin Mohd Sani said that the composition of the cabinet depended on the proportion of MPs who represented each party, hence, the larger the number of parties that won, the greater their participation in the cabinet.
Anwar had said that he intended to cut the size of the Malaysian cabinet from 31 to 25 members and he aimed to seek the consent of future ministers in order to lower ministerial wages.
Anwar is currently waiting for the constituent parties of his unity government to submit potential ministerial candidates.
Speculation is rife that Petra Jaya MP Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof, who is Gabungan Parti Sarawak’s (GPS) parliamentary chief whip and Barisan deputy chairman Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan, or Tok Mat were the candidates for deputy prime minister.
It was also reported that the Cabinet was likely to comprise 30 per cent representatives from Pakatan Harapan, Barisan Nasional (20% to 30%), with Sabah, Sarawak and other allies making up the rest of its members.
On the campaign trail, Anwar had said that Pakatan Harapan would appoint two DPMs – one from Peninsular, one from East Malaysia – should the coalition win GE15.
