How do ministers, BN shadows rate their performance?
In conjunction with the first anniversary of the Pakatan Harapan administration, Malaysiakini has asked each ministry to assess their own performance.
The report cards below are based on self-assessments by ministers or deputy ministers.
They list out the biggest achievements of a ministry, as well as what it should have done, but did not, in the past year.
To counterbalance the government’s own assessments, Malaysiakini also asked the BN shadow cabinet for its comments on the performance of the ministries. However, some shadow ministers were either uncontactable, or withheld their comments when contacted.
Click or tap on the name of each ministry below to view their report cards. Please note that some ministries did not respond with regard to what it was unable to achieve within the past year.
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Prime Minister’s Department (Islamic Affairs)
Prime Minister’s Department (Law)
Prime Minister’s Department (National Unity and Social Well-being)
Agriculture and Agro-based Industries Ministry
Communications and Multimedia Ministry
Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry
Energy, Science, Technology, Environment and Climate Change Ministry
Entrepreneur Development Ministry
Housing and Local Government Ministry
International Trade and Industry Ministry
Tourism, Arts and Culture Ministry
Water, Land and Natural Resources Ministry
Women, Family, and Community Development Ministry
Prime Minister's Department
Prime Minister: Dr Mahathir Mohamad
Deputy: Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail
Achievements
- The fragile Harapan coalition is still united and Mahathir remains its leader.
- Cabinet ministers are performing well.
- Made progress in eradicating corruption within the government.
Shortcomings
- Yet to abolish tolled highways.
- Yet to abolish mandatory death penalty.
Opposition Leader Ismail Sabri Yaakob refuse to comment.
Agriculture and Agro-based Industries Ministry
Minister: Salahuddin Ayub
Deputy: Sim Tze Tzin
Achievements
- Establishing a special committee to study ways to break Padiberas Nasional Bhd’s (Bernas) monopoly on rice supply.
- Planning the export of local fruits to several countries, including China.
- Introducing the ministry's five-point plan, which has 18 strategies and 51 initiatives.
Shortcomings
- Yet to come out with a better model to replace Bernas.
- Yet to implement crop insurance for farmers and fisherfolk.
- Yet to establish a trust fund for fisherfolk who are no longer able to go out to sea.
Shadow minister Tajuddin Abdul Rahman on the ministry’s performance:
Achievements
- None
Shortcomings
- The ministry has not improved living standards for farmers.
- "The minister wanted to break Bernas’ monopoly. What has happened now? It’s empty talk."
- The ministry has not expanded the export market for agricultural products.
Communications and Multimedia Ministry
Minister: Gobind Singh Deo
Deputy: Eddin Syazlee Shith
Achievements
- Implementing Mandatory Standard on Access Pricing (MSAP) to bring down broadband internet prices, while doubling connection speeds.
Shortcomings
- No comment
Shadow minister Shamsul Anuar Nasarah refused to comment.
Defence Ministry
Minister: Mohamad Sabu
Deputy: Liew Chin Tong
Achievements
- Initiating an internal probe of the ministry through a special investigation committee on procurement, governance, and finance.
- Withdrawing Malaysian troops from involvement in Saudi Arabia's offensive against Yemen.
- Reactivating the National Veterans Council.
Shortcomings
- No comment
Shadow minister Hishammuddin Hussein was uncontactable.
Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry
Minister: Saifuddin Nasution
Deputy: Chong Chieng Jen
Achievements
- Establishing the Food Bank Malaysia programme.
- Preparing the soon-to-be-implemented targeted subsidy for RON95 petrol.
- Conducting a food supply chain analysis.
Shortcomings
- Yet to expand e-commerce to help bring down the cost of living.
- Yet to improve e-commerce literacy among consumers.
- Yet to implement goods subsidy scheme due to budget constraints.
Shadow minister: None (the former shadow minister Hamzah Zainudin has since joined Pakatan Harapan).
Education Ministry
Minister: Maszlee Malik
Deputy: Teo Nie Ching
Achievements
- Abolishing examinations for primary school students in Year One to Three.
- Amending the Universities and University Colleges Act 1971 (UUCA) to allow students to take part in political party activities on campus.
- Allowing undocumented children to enrol in schools.
Shortcomings
- No comment.
Shadow minister Mahdzir Khalid on the ministry’s performance:
Achievements
- None
Shortcomings
- The minister and his deputy need to understand the difference between education policies and regulations, as there has been so much backpedalling after certain announcements were made.
Energy, Science, Technology, Environment and Climate Change Ministry
Minister: Yeo Bee Yin
Deputy: Isnaraissah Munirah Majilis
Achievements
- Launching the “Roadmap Towards Zero Single-use Plastics 2018-2030”.
- Reducing greenhouse gas emissions intensity per GDP by about 33 percent compared to 2005 levels.
- Promoting and increasing the commercialisation of research and development through the Malaysia Commercialisation Year.
Shortcomings
- None
Shadow minister Ahmad Hamzah was uncontactable.
Entrepreneur Development Ministry
Minister: Mohd Redzuan Md Yusof
Deputy: Mohd Hatta Md Ramli
Achievements
- Being entrusted by other countries with leading the global halal industry.
- Continuing to develop the national automative industry.
- Continuing the aerospace sector’s development.
Shortcomings
- No comment.
Shadow minister Abdul Azeez Abdul Rahim refused to comment.
Federal Territories Ministry
Minister: Khalid Abdul Samad
Deputy: Shahruddin Md Salleh
Achievements
- Establishing the Federal Territory Ministerial Council.
- Gazetting the Kuala Lumpur Development Plan (PlanKL2020).
- Kuala Lumpur City Council (DBKL) gaining income of RM481 million in the form of cash and land value after reviewing all 97 land transactions in Kuala Lumpur.
Shortcomings
- Yet to resolve dispute over Taman Rimba Kiara development.
- Yet to resolve dispute over Federal Hill development.
- Yet to issue a request for proposals to improve public transportation infrastructure in Putrajaya.
Shadow minister Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor refused to comment.
Finance Ministry
Minister: Lim Guan Eng
Deputy: Amiruddin Hamzah
Achievements
- Abolishing goods and services tax (GST) and replacing it with sales and service tax (SST) while avoiding bankruptcy.
- Paying out GST and income tax refunds.
- Maintaining a good economy; 48 percent increase in approved foreign direct investment for 2018; low inflation and unemployment.
Shortcomings
- Yet to create more jobs for graduates.
- Yet to reduce the rakyat’s cost of living.
Shadow minister Khairy Jamaluddin refused to comment.
Foreign Affairs Ministry
Minister: Saifuddin Abdullah
Deputy: Marzuki Yahya
Achievements
- Successfully negotiating better deals for the East Coast Rail Link and Bandar Malaysia projects with China.
- Resolving disputes with Singapore involving the maritime borders and the Seletar Airport Instrument Landing System, and beginning negotiations on the agreement to supply water to Singapore.
- Improving Malaysia's image by championing democracy, freedom, human rights, and law and order at the international level.
Shortcomings
- Yet to set up more consulates in more countries.
- Yet to ratify as many international conventions as possible.
- Yet to resolve the issue of the European Union's ban on Malaysian palm oil.
Shadow minister Reezal Merican Naina Merican refused to comment.
Health Ministry
Minister: Dzulkefly Ahmad
Deputy: Dr Lee Boon Chye
Achievements
- Addressing the issues of welfare of the ministry’s officials and drug price control.
- Saving money by taking several stern actions against multibillion ringgit projects.
- Implementing the PeKa B40 programme, which provides health screenings and aid for medical devices for the B40 income group.
Shortcomings
- Yet to increase the ministry’s budget for operating and development expenditures.
- Yet to provide more healthcare facilities to the public.
Shadow minister: None (Former shadow minister Abdul Latiff Ahmad has since joined Pakatan Harapan).
Home Ministry
Minister: Muhyiddin Yassin
Deputy: Mohd Azis Jamman
Achievements
- Implementing reviews of draconian laws, with Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012 (Sosma) and Peaceful Assembly Act 2012 amendments to be introduced soon.
- Initiating efforts to reduce the crime rate.
- Initiating efforts to tighten border security.
Shortcomings
- Yet to resolve the problem of illegal migrants in the country.
- Yet to complete review of police standard operating procedures and improve the police's image.
- Yet to fully address the country's drug problem, and reduce prison overcrowding.
Shadow minister Shahidan Kassim on the ministry’s performance:
Achievements
- Improving enforcement by the police and Immigration Department.
Shortcomings
- The ministry has not resolved overlapping issues between maritime police and the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA).
- The ministry has not replaced old and ineffective assets belonging to the police and MMEA.
- The ministry has not produced a good publicity strategy for the police.
Housing and Local Government Ministry
Minister: Zuraida Kamaruddin
Deputy: Raja Kamarul Bahrin Shah Raja Ahmad
Achievements
- Launching the National Housing Policy 2.0.
- Rebranding registered licensed moneylenders under the ministry as the ‘Credit Community’.
Shortcomings
- Yet to implement a national cleanliness policy.
- Yet to establish a policy to address the issue of abandoned housing projects.
- Yet to establish a policy for stratified residences.
Shadow minister Noh Omar refused to comment.
Human Resources Ministry
Minister: M Kulasegaran
Deputy: Mahfuz Omar
Achievements
- Bringing confidence and integrity to the ministry, minister, deputy minister, and the officers of the ministry.
- Implementing strict enforcement of rules and laws on all companies.
- Streamlining a minimum wage of RM1,100 for Peninsular and East Malaysia.
Shortcomings
- No comment.
Shadow minister Ismail Abdul Muttalib was uncontactable.
International Trade and Industry Ministry
Minister: Darell Leiking
Deputy: Ong Kian Ming
Achievements
- Improving Malaysia’s trade performance for 2018 despite global uncertainties.
- Achieving a surge in foreign direct investments.
- Launching of the National Policy on Industry 4.0.
Shortcomings
- No comment.
Shadow minister Ahmad Maslan on the ministry’s performance:
Achievements
- Carrying on the right policies introduced former minister Mustapa Mohamed.
Shortcomings
- There was a decrease in the value of trade exports in the first two months of 2019.
(Editor’s note: Trade export data for March 2019 was not yet available at the time of the interview)
Primary Industries Ministry
Minister: Teresa Kok
Deputy: Shamsul Iskandar Md Akin
Achievements
- Implementing B10 palm oil biodiesel for diesel vehicles, and B7 biodiesel for the industrial sector.
- Reforming the Malaysian Rubber Board (MRB), including imposing a moratorium on property development projects and stopping leakages.
- The Council of Palm Oil Producing Countries (CPOC) successfully persuading Asean member countries not to endorse a strategic partnership agreement between Asean and the European Union (EU), in order to retaliate against the latter’s discrimination against palm oil.
Shortcomings
- Yet to achieve close to 100 percent Malaysia Sustainable Palm Oil (MSPO) certification for the whole value chain of the oil palm industry.
- Yet to complete attainable reforms in the oil palm industry, and to push for implementation of a mandate for B20 biodiesel in the transport sector.
- Yet to implement strategic and effective communication strategies for the “Love MY Palm Oil” campaign in the palm oil battle against the EU.
Shadow minister Mastura Yazid was uncontactable.
Prime Minister’s Department (Islamic Affairs)
Minister: Mujahid Yusof Rawa
Deputy: Fuziah Salleh
Achievements
- Introducing the "compassionate state" (negara rahmah) concept.
- Ensuring the minister no longer holds an important position in the Federal Territories Islamic Religious Council.
- Exposing the wrongdoings of Lembaga Tabung Haji.
Shortcomings
- Yet to free mosques from politics and religious radicalisation.
Shadow minister: None (the previous shadow minister Shabudin Yahaya has joined Pakatan Harapan).
Prime Minister’s Department (Law)
Minister: Liew Vui Keong
Deputy: Mohamed Hanipa Maidin
Achievements
- Pass a bill to abolish the Anti-Fake News Act 2017 at Dewan Rakyat.
- Commence efforts to restore Sabah and Sarawak as equal partners.
- Initiating move to abolish mandatory death sentence.
- Editor’s Note: The abolition of the Anti-Fake News Act was rejected at Dewan Negara. The Parliament did not pass the constitutional amendment for Sabah and Sarawak while the bill to abolish mandatory death penalty is yet to be tabled.
Shortcomings
- Yet to amend the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952 to make death sentence leniency provisions less strict.
Shadow minister Azalina Othman Said on the ministry’s performance:
Achievements
- Forming parliamentary select committees.
- Appointing a member of the opposition as the chairperson of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC).
Shortcomings
- The ministry has not established a court to deal with sexual crimes against children in other states and amend laws related to child protection.
- The ministry has not reformed the law by amending or abolishing certain laws as promised in their manifesto.
- The ministry has not conducted public consultations on many issues, such as the ratification of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (Icerd) and the Rome Statute, and the constitutional amendment regarding Sabah and Sarawak’s status.
Prime Minister’s Department (National Unity and Social Well-being)
Minister: P Waythamoorthy
Deputy: Mohamed Farid Md Rafik
Achievements
- Establishing effective cooperation between the ministry, residents’ associations and the private sector to promote unity.
- Organising the first-ever National Orang Asli Convention.
- Establishing a more transparent system for fund allocations by the Malaysian Indian Transformation Unit (Mitra).
Shortcomings
- No comment.
Shadow minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob refused to comment.
Rural Development Ministry
Minister: Rina Harun
Deputy: R Sivarasa
Achievements
- Helping entrepreneurs in rural areas to succeed.
- Assisting students from poor families to pursue tertiary education.
- Introducing the Desa Harapan programme.
Shortcomings
- Yet to help villagers address waste disposal issues.
- Yet to implement Desa Digital programme.
- Yet to address the issue of population migration from rural to urban areas.
Shadow minister Annuar Musa refused to comment.
Tourism, Arts and Culture Ministry
Minister: Mohammadin Ketapi
Deputy: Muhammad Bakhtiar Wan Chik
Achievements
- Ensuring Kuala Lumpur remained one of the top ten most visited cities in 2018, according to Euromonitor International.
- Successfully organising the World Library and Information Congress.
- Dondang Sayang, a love ballad which originated in Malacca in the 15th century, being recognised by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco) as "intangible cultural heritage".
Shortcomings
- Yet to launch a bigger marketing campaign to promote Malaysian tourism, due to financial constraints.
Shadow minister Nazri Abdul Aziz refused to comment.
Transport Ministry
Minister: Anthony Loke
Deputy: Kamarudin Jaffar
Achievements
- Reducing commuting cost through the RapidKL unlimited travel pass and 20 percent discount for KTM Komuter and BRT users.
- Fixing flight tickets prices for festive seasons at affordable rates.
- Standardising commercial vehicle fees for Sabah and Sarawak.
Shortcomings
- None
Shadow minister Wee Ka Siong refused to comment.
Water, Land and Natural Resources Ministry
Minister: Xavier Jayakumar
Deputy: Tengku Zulpuri Shah Raja Puji
Achievements
- Completing the restructuring of the Selangor water industry.
- Launching the Save Our Malayan Tiger Campaign.
- Preparing standard operating procedure for bauxite mining.
Shortcomings
- No comment.
Shadow minister Bung Moktar Radin on the ministry’s performance:
Achievements
- None
Shortcomings
- Resolving water issues at the national level.
Women, Family, and Community Development Ministry
Minister: Wan Azizah Wan Ismail
Deputy: Hannah Yeoh
Achievements
- Introducing the i-Suri incentive scheme, which encourages husbands to contribute towards their wives' retirement fund.
- Enabling the public to check for child sexual offenders in a registry.
- Allocating RM10 million for the establishing of 50 childcare centres in public agencies nationwide.
Shortcomings
- None
Shadow minister Noraini Ahmad refused to comment.
Works Ministry
Minister: Baru Bian
Deputy: Mohd Anuar Mohd Tahir
Achievements
- Abolishing motorcycle tolls on three routes.
- Initiating the construction of the Sarawak-Sabah link road.
- Launching the Impact programme by the Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB), which aims to test and certify products of Industrialised Building System (IBS) manufacturers.
Shortcomings
- Yet to complete abolishment of tolled highways.
Shadow minister M Saravanan refused to comment.
Youth and Sports Ministry
Minister: Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman
Deputy: Steven Sim
Achievements
- Introducing the Malaysian Future Leaders School programme.
- Establishing the Special Health Scheme for athletes.
- Implementing the Yellow Ribbon project, which aims to provide a second chance for former prisoners and former inmates of rehabilitation centres.
Shortcomings
- Yet to provide 100,000 job opportunities for the youth.
- Yet to provide affordable housing projects for the youth.
- Yet to lower the voting age to 18 through a constitutional amendment.
Shadow minister Mohd Shahar Abdullah refused to comment.
Economic Affairs Minister Mohamed Azmin Ali and his deputy Mohd Radzi Md Jidin did not respond to Malaysiakini’s queries, and neither did BN shadow economic affairs minister Hasan Arifin.
Lee Long Hui, Kow Gah Chie, Geraldine Tong, Zikri Kamarulzaman, Anne Muhammad, Shakira Buang, Annabelle Lee, Haspaizi Zain, M Fakhrull Halim, Alyaa Alhadjri and B Nantha Kumar contributed to the article.
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