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YOURSAY | Splitting hairs over political appointments

This article is a year old

YOURSAY | ‘Crux of the issue is whether these appointees are qualified.’

Political appointments: 'Do not confuse statutory bodies with GLCs' – Loke

Uncle Yap: I shudder at how much DAP is willing to surrender to keep Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim in power. First, it was foregoing cabinet positions merited on its strong electoral showing.

Then the silence when Anwar tried to outplay PAS and PN using the religion card. This was followed by silence on the non-recognition of the Unified Examination Certificate (UEC).

Now there is total silence on paying the toll (same old same old). Instead of protesting the appointment of politicos in highly paid positions in whatever bodies, we have the DAP supremo justifying the appointment by differentiating between statutory bodies and government-linked companies (GLCs).

This is beginning to sound like BN is in power with MCA as the eternal apologist. Change BN to Pakatan Harapan and MCA to DAP and you will have to agree it is the same old same old.

Apanama is back: Transport Minister and DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke must first admit that it is back to square one.

Whatever is it, anybody whether it is GLCs or otherwise, there are technocrats, both here and overseas Malaysians who are willing to help this government in better ways.

First, admit that this government needs stability, and you are not going to rock the boat. No spinning and twisting things about. The government should apply the same rules for all and not be selective for GLCs and other bodies.

Do we lack competent people? Looks like all politicians are being rotated about in these GLCs like musical chairs.

Steven Ong: There is no difference in appointing an incompetent fellow to any position in whatever institution. Incompetence is still incompetence.

Meanwhile, the government missed utilising experts, and efficient and morally strong professionals to manage the statutory and regulatory bodies.

Loke, don't lower yourself to the level of incompetency and bring disrespect to DAP.

Bornean: Just because the previous government filled up statutory and regulatory bodies with politicians doesn't mean you must follow suit, Loke.

Whether they are GLCs, Bursa-listed companies, or statutory or regulatory bodies, they are all the same to us.

I am sure many capable people besides politicians can handle the jobs much better.

RedMarlin1833: The crux of the whole issue is whether these appointees are qualified. Are these people able to bring success and profitability to the organisation? Or else it would be the same story as previous governments, making excuses for failures and justifying the losses in audit reports!

Come on guys, we have had enough from previous governments. I thought you guys would have learnt all the lessons by now.

Newday: Now you are splitting hairs? Can you tell us what possible benefit a polarising close-minded politician Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki can bring to Majlis Amanah Rakyat (Mara) as its chairperson?

The original aims of Mara have been heavily diluted and conservative religion has a firm grip within. Will Asyraf influence change? You know and I know it will be status quo.

I am a Malaysian: Although statutory and regulatory bodies may do well with heads with proven expertise in the areas of overview, arguably leadership is equally if not more important as they provide macro-management direction, and micro-management is the purview of technocrats, not heads.

Please also note that the appointees made by the unity government are not ordinary Ah Kow, Muthu or Ali but top leaders from the component parties.

TruthBeTold: Many think that reforms can be done overnight. You have to be patient.

Earlier, the prime minister was criticised for also being the finance minister.

Only now with a slew of daring arrests by the MACC based on what was exposed by the Finance Ministry, do we realise that it takes someone as daring as Anwar to bring corrupt practices to light.

Furthermore, the unity government is not 100 percent made up of Harapan and there has to be give and take between parties that were and may still be enemies.

YellowKancil0051: True Reformasi is not possible with a unity government.

This is the Umno culture of doling out rewards to their loyalists. One step at a time.

The priority is to stamp out corruption. Our existing laws should apply to everyone.


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