New cabinet line-up: What do pundits, stakeholders say?

About a week after Muhyiddin Yassin was sworn in as prime minister, he has finally unveiled the new cabinet line-up.

The new cabinet consists of members from the Perikatan Nasional (PN) coalition, including BN, PAS, Bersatu, with the support of GPS and 11 former PKR leaders led by Azmin Ali.

Since the unveiling, the new cabinet has received mixed reactions from several quarters.

Works Minister Fadillah Yusof

“Even though GPS is part of the federal cabinet but we remain as a Sarawak political entity friendly to the federal government. GPS will continue to fight for the rights of Sarawakians and will not join PN.

“Under the Pakatan Harapan government, GPS also took a friendly approach with the federal government. The difference is, under Muhyiddin’s leadership, the eighth prime minister needs GPS to be in the cabinet together, to govern the country while facing tough political and economical challenges for the sake of the nation,” Fadillah said in a statement today.

Aside from Fadillah, there are Alexander Nanta Linggi (Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister), Wan Junaidi Wan Jaafar (Entrepreneurship Development Minister), Nancy Shukri (Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister), Hanifah Hajar Taib (Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department in charge of Sabah and Sarawak affairs), Hasbi Habibollah (Deputy Transport Minister), Aaron Ago Dagang (Deputy Health Minister), Henry Sum Agong (Deputy Rural Development Minister II) and Tiong King Sing (Deputy National Unity Minister).

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department in charge of religious affairs Zulkifli Mohamad Al-Bakri

Federal Territories mufti Zulkifli Mohamad Al-Bakri is the first mufti to become a cabinet minister.

After the cabinet announcement, Zulkifli continued with his routine by attending his monthly religious lecture at a mosque in Slim River, Perak.

“I humbly ask for everyone to continue praying for me so that I may be blessed by Allah with the strength to take on this duty and responsibility to the fullest of my capabilities,” he said while citing a hadith narrated by Abdullah Salam.

Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi

The new cabinet line-up was noticeably missing the names of both PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang and Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

“I rejected a cabinet position so that I can focus on getting the party ready to face the 15th general election.

“I will cleanse myself in court and the charges against me were not dropped as was done by the former attorney-general towards former government leaders,” Zahid said in a statement today.

Perlis mufti Mohd Asri Zainul Abidin

The cabinet line-up was not only missing Hadi but it also only featured three PAS ministers, a fact which has drawn some public ridicule.

Perlis mufti Mohd Asri Zainul Abidin has defended PAS against its naysayers, saying Hadi should be commended for not insisting on a post.

“The other day, when I met with (Muhyiddin), he told me about the latest developments before the cabinet was announced.

“Among what impressed me was when he talked about Hadi's openness who did not insist on being appointed (into the cabinet).

“Even though he submitted a name list from his party, he was not stern about a position for himself. We should praise such behaviour.

“I see there are those making fun as if the PAS president is disappointed for not being appointed.

“I believe the ridicule is a sin based on lies with no basis,” Mohd Asri said in a Facebook posting tonight.

Former youth and sports minister Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman

“Congratulations to Reezal Merican Naina Merican and Wan Fayhsal Wan Kamal on their appointment as Minister and Deputy Minister of Youth and Sports.

“Good luck in carrying out your duties and serve well for the sake of the future of the youth as well as the future of the nation’s sports development,” Syed Saddiq said in a tweet.

Former deputy youth and sports minister Steven Sim

“Even though we are of different opinions with the PN government, I still hope the minister will consider the policies planned during our service for the sake of developing the youth and sports sector, just like how we continued several policies from BN’s time which benefitted the people,” Sim said.

Former Federal Territories minister Khalid Samad

“The legitimacy of the parliamentarians who support this government is still in question. That is why the legitimacy of the government from the legal perspective remains in doubt.

“It must be tested in Parliament through a vote of no-confidence immediately.

“There are 70 posts including the prime minister compared to 55 under the Harapan government previously. It is a cabinet where everyone gets their reward.

“The composition of this cabinet also does not reflect the racial composition in Malaysia. This is because it is made up of a group of traitors and kleptocrats working together for their interests.

Women’s Aid Organisation (WAO)

“We are disappointed to see that women continue to be underrepresented — only 15.6 per cent of ministers are women.

“The rakyat voted for reforms. In the past two years, various reforms have been developed and were close to being tabled in Parliament.

“The new cabinet must now tell us how they intend to continue these efforts,” WAO said in a statement.

The reforms they mentioned include the Sexual Harassment Act and the Gender Equality Act (led by the Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development), the introduction of seven-day paternity leave and anti-discrimination provisions in the Employment Act (led by the Ministry of Human Resources) and the enactment of anti-stalking laws (led by the Law Minister’s Office).