No race issue with Nga Kor Ming as minister, merely is filling in DAP's quota

SHAH ALAM - There is nothing racially-charged over the appointment of DAP vice-chairman Nga Kor Ming as the new Local Government Development Minister, analysts stress.

In fact, Associate Professor Dr Ummu Atiyah Ahmad Zakuan explained that any members of parliament (MP) can be a minister as long as they deliver; and as long as they policies their ministries introduced are in-line with the Federal Constitution.

"Nga's post, was once held by MCA's Tan Sri Datuk Chor Chee Heung from 2010 to 2013.

"It was only during Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin's and Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri's tenure that it was given to a Malay MP," she added.

Ummu Atiyah argued that it was inappropriate to profile any particular ministries with race.

The appointment of DAP MPs in the new Cabinet led by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim was also, inevitable, with another analyst, Dr Shamsul Baharuddin explaining that Nga was there to fill DAP's quota in the unity government.

However, he pointed out that unlike in previous Pakatan Harapan government, this time around DAP MPs were not appointed to important portfolios.

“Even though DAP has 40 seats in the Parliament bigger than PKR (31 seats) and Amanah (8), unlike in the previous Pakatan Harapan (PH) government, the DAP MPs are not controlling important critical portfolios, only two are in the top 10 positions.”

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim had unveiled his Cabinet roster yesterday, revealing a total of 28 ministers -- which was more than the 24 he initially targetted.