New cabinet more inclusive, but Zahid’s inclusion ‘deeply’ concerning: Aliran

KUALA LUMPUR – Human rights advocacy group, Aliran today said it was pleased that the composition of the new cabinet was more multi-ethnic and inclusive, with more representation from Sabah and Sarawak and women.

Even so, it said that with just five women (18%) out of 28 cabinet ministers being women, it is still short of being a gender-balanced cabinet.

Aliran also urged Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to take several steps to enhance checks and balances in his administration.

“Among these steps are enhancing the independence of the process of selecting the attorney-general and the chief of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission through a bipartisan parliamentary select committee, and nominating a credible speaker in Parliament.

“The government should also separate the role of the public prosecutor from the Attorney-General’s Chambers, revamp the Judicial Appointments Commission to remove any influence the prime minister may have on the selection of judges via his appointments to the commission, and allow an opposition shadow cabinet and parliamentary select committees to exercise parliamentary oversight on key ministerial functions,” it said.

While this is being done, Aliran said the new cabinet should get down to tackling bread-and-butter issues, reducing the people’s cost of living, and improving their quality of life – the first point in the People's Agenda, as endorsed by over 50 civil society groups.

Another key priority is educational reform to provide the next generation with the tools that will empower them in their chosen career paths, it said.

“We are, however, deeply concerned that Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has been included in the cabinet, given his ongoing court cases involving corruption. No doubt, this was done out of political expediency.

“The PM’s decision to take on the finance portfolio, though he is ‘not inclined’, is also a cause for concern, as it reduces checks and balances on the person helming the ministry.

“Anwar says he needs the portfolio to instil confidence in the economy in the initial stage, so he should ensure he does not hold the portfolio beyond that.

“We are also concerned about the ‘backdoor appointments’ of those who lost in the general election.

“Ministerial appointments via the senatorial route should only be made under exceptional circumstances, where the required expertise cannot be found in the cabinet,” it added. – The Vibes, December 3, 2022