MB holding multiple portfolios: A conflict of interest?

AFTER the recent state elections, the newly elected Menteri Besar or Chief Ministers of Kedah, Selangor, Kelantan, Terengganu, and Penang have all announced their line-ups of Executive Council (exco) members.

In all of these states, the MB is also holding multiple portfolios.

For example, Kedah MB Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor is holding eight portfolios, including State Planning, Land Affairs, Minerals and Geosciences, Land Products, Finance, Government-Linked Companies, State Economic Action Council, Kedah Development 2035, and External Cooperation.

Selangor MB Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari is holding five portfolios, Kelantan MB Datuk Mohd Nassuruddin Daud is holding five portfolios, Terengganu MB Datuk Seri Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar is holding four portfolios, and Penang CM Chow Kon Yeow is holding three portfolios.

Political Science lecturer Dr Sharifah Nursyahidah Syed Annuar of Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia believes that this is a conflict of interest. "It is actually quite an awkward scenario to happen when there are many other individuals who can hold the various portfolios.

"A menteri besar should not hold too many portfolios because it may cause conflicts and conflicting interests," he told Sinar Premium.

According to her, holding too many portfolios will also cause loss of concentration and focus.

"It is enough for a menteri besar or chief minister to hold only one to three portfolios.

"Apart from that, a question arises that if one holds two or three portfolios, does it mean that he will receive only one salary or allowance or more?" she questioned.

O2 Research chief researcher Anis Anwar Suhaimi agrees that the practice of MBs holding multiple portfolios is problematic. He pointed that due to the small size of exco line-up admist an abundance of assignments, a menteri besar needs to hold several portfolios besides combining several portfolios to be entrusted to the state council.

"One of the main factors in the situation is that the size of the cabinet at the federal level and exco at the state level are not the same as a state exco is smaller.

"The state's jurisdiction is not as large as that of the federal and governance at the state level is not as large and as complicated as that of the federal government, but it is still necessary to manage allocations from the ministries related to the relevant exco besides managing the state's jurisdiction," he explained.

According to Anis, ideally, one of the benefits numerous portfolios being managed by menteri besar is a smooth execution of responsibilities as the menteri besar himself is the head of the state government and holds a huge power of making decisions.

"However, on the other hand, a large number of portfolios also risk excessive concentration of power and may subsequently lead to integrity issues.

"Not to forget, it also puts a heavy burden on a menteri besar or chief minister and may result in delays of each portfolio's operation," he said.

Meanwhile, he recounted the 13th Selangor Menteri Besar Mohamad Khir Toyo admitting that the practice of holding over one portfolio is due to a limited number of state exco.

"Unlike at the federal level, there are usually only 10 exco members for each state, but there are many portfolios, so it is not surprising if the menteri besar or chief minister has to hold more than one portfolio.

"In terms of management, to ensure that each portfolio runs smoothly, it should involve regular meetings, discussions and presentations of reports by each exco," he said.