Let's Look at the Cabinet... let some common sense prevail
Anwar Ibrahim has been given the mandate to set up the new cabinet to run the government.
While we are free to criticise him, with the hope that he will listen to the voices of the people, and accept advices that make sense, a lot of the talk now about the newly-formed cabinet is nothing but vain talk.
First, Bersatu President, Muhyiddin Yasin has nothing better to say about the new cabinet. I would be surprised if none of us ever call him a kleptokrat, when he appointed his own people to helm ministries and GLCs. So, enough of his nonsense, I won't elaborate further.
Vain Talks
But it is the comments like this that I feel is in vain:
I sometimes think we should get out of our `rocking chair' mindset. In the chat groups where we are in, people with similar views are often the echo chamber for our voices.
Let's do something outside the circle that we are in -- get our views out there by writing Letters to the Editor. A few people can string together a few sentences each and you have an entire letter that can be used by the press; otherwise, the views and ideas are not heard beyond the chat group.
Should Anwar take on the role as Finance Minister? Or, should it be Rafizi Ramli. Although I support Rafizi's return, and he has good financial background, I think his experience as a minister has yet to be tested for him to hold such an important position.
Please allow him time at least in the next few years to learn the ropes of managing a full-fledged ministry before Anwar can pass him the job.
Meanwhile, I think Anwar plays an important role in his capacity as Finance Minister. This was the portfolio he was holding before he was sacked by Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
Moreover, Anwar cannot afford to pay the salary of another minister to do the job. What else do we want when the man himself is not taking any salary for holding two important positions?
About race composition in the cabinet, please be fair to the new cabinet. We are supposed to be talking about a MALAYSIAN cabinet, based on the abilities of the ministers rather than race, aren't we? Why bring up the issue of Chinese being just 7%?
The current scenario is unique because the unity government is facing threats from extremist parties. I rather have a strong majority government that seeks equality for all races.
Moving forward, we should look beyond race and religion. The Government of Malaysia is secular while upholding Islam as the Official Religion. It seeks for the well-being of all, under the blessings of the Almighty.
After the appointment of an all-inclusive Malaysian government, it is time for those appointed to start performing.
If they fail to perform, only then, we sharpen our axe. Meanwhile, let's give them our support, rather than look at every angle that we can to criticise the new cabinet.
No offence intentded but that's why, when I received a fake poster (below), I shared it teasingly with people who criticise the current cabinet make-up. Without saying it, I wanted them to ask, `Do you prefer this instead? '
In her 22 months as minister with a number of portfolios, she did well, but if she lacked tact, which I also heard from my own sources in recent months, it is time for some soul searching and maybe contribute ideas for the current minister that can benefit the nation.
Anwar's Tainted Cabinet?
Initially, I also did not agree that Ahmad Zahid Hamidi should be the Deputy Prime Minister. I was more keen to have two DPMs from East Malaysia, or at least a DPM who is non-Malay or even a woman DPM, to be fair to all races and gender.
Zahid's reputation is not only tainted, but he has is a lacklustre minister in the past just like Muhyiddin Yasin.
However, we must not forget even in the worst people, there is still some goodness in them if we believe that we are created in the image of God. Maybe, you don't but at least you would agree that even with the worst of criminals, there is some compassion in them.
Zahid was also very strategic in getting BN's support for Anwar's cabinet. There is a need for this cabinet to run its full course instead of another coup similar to the Sheraton Move.
At this juncture, Zahid knows the dagger is out there to stab him on this back. If he is ousted as Barisan Nasional chairman and another person takes over, do you think the BN bloc would continue to support the unity government. If I may say appointing Zahid as DPM is a necessity evil, but I hope he would make good use of his time as DPM to turn on a new leaf.
One can only hope that the new Agong would stick to the decision made by the current Agong and the Conference of Rulers and refuse another change of cabinet except the one that has been given the mandate in terms of popularity votes (given the malapportionment of parliamentary constituencies).
Cabinet reshuffling is inevitable, but Anwar's government should continue running the country for the next five years.
As for Guan Eng, Syed Saddiq, Gobind Singh and Bee Yin, well, they already had the experience previously as cabinet ministers. It is good that some of them remain in the background for now as reserved players. What we want are more people in the pool of players to select for before we talk about the best candidates based on their abilities.
Meanwhile, we hope that Zahid would do a good job if he is focused on solving the nation's problems. For example, being in charge of Rural Development, I have an idea for him which I have been mooting since 2018: set up regular buffet sessions with home-cooked kampung food to attract local tourists from the cities. This would help boost the rural economy, and encourage people to interact with each other.
We can each set up a blog post to put together our ideas that can be cherry picked like this one I am adding every now and then. https://come-to-senses.blogspot.com/2022/11/suggestions-for-new-cabinet.html
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