KUALA LUMPUR: Nusantara Academy of Strategic Research Senior Fellow, Prof Dr Azmi Hassan, says that Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim resisted elevating many senior PKR leaders in his Cabinet reshuffle, but this appears to have political consequences for DAP.
The reshuffle saw six new ministers appointed, two ministers and one deputy minister dropped, alongside changes among deputy ministers.
“Most evidently, the Prime Minister didn’t use his authority to appoint many senior leaders from PKR to consolidate his position within the party, except for Sungai Buloh MP Datuk Seri R. Ramanan, who was appointed Human Resources Minister,” Azmi told Twentytwo13.
“However, it appears that DAP has been downgraded, as Hannah Yeoh was moved to a Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Federal Territories), Steven Sim was re-assigned to a less influential ministry (Entrepreneur and Cooperatives Development), and Lim Hui Ying was moved to Deputy Minister of Women, Family and Community Development, although Anthony Loke and Nga Kor Ming retained their posts.
“I believe the Prime Minister used his authority to send a signal that, in its current weakened position, DAP should not be making excessive demands.”
Azmi said, in contrast, several Umno ministers have been awarded more prominent positions after proving their capability in handling their respective previous portfolios.
He said Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said has performed exceptionally well in managing the Sulu claim case (against Sabah); Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani excelled in the Plantations and Commodities portfolio, which is why he was promoted to the Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry (MITI); while Datuk Seri Dr Noraini Ahmad was appointed to succeed Johari as the Plantations and Commodities Minister.
“This reflects the fate of the two parties within the Madani government — DAP is perceived as having been downgraded, while Umno has been entrusted with more senior and influential ministries,” he said.
Azmi believed that the Cabinet reshuffle would not negatively affect cooperation between PKR and DAP, as the most important factor is that the Prime Minister did not use the reshuffle to strengthen his position among PKR Members of Parliament.
On the appointment of PKR’s Sungai Petani first-term MP, Dr Mohammed Taufiq Johari, as the Youth and Sports Minister, Azmi described the move as one way the Prime Minister is highlighting young MPs within his Cabinet line-up.
Those dropped from Cabinet
Datuk Seri Dr Zaliha Mustafa: Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Federal Territories)
Datuk Mohd Na’im Mokhtar (Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department - Religious Affairs)
K. Saraswathy (National Unity Deputy Minister)
New Ministers
Datuk Seri R. Ramanan (Human Resources)
Datuk Seri Noraini Ahmad (Plantations and Commodities)
Akmal Nasir (Economy)
Datuk Mustapha @ Mohd Yunus Sakmud (Sabah and Sarawak Affairs)
Datuk Arthur Joseph Kurup (Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability)
Senator Datuk Seri Dr Zulkifli Hasan (Religious Affairs)