I AM glad that MCA at the very least – despite being a component party of Barisan Nasional (BN) and an ally in the unity government – has the courage to raise matters on the proposed cabinet reshuffle.
While the sycophants are singing the old and boring song that Prime Minister (PM) Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim knows the best, at least MCA is willing to rise from the ashes to advice Anwar on the cabinet reshuffle.
For MCA, to be critical is better late than never.
Saying that the reshuffle is the prerogative of the PM is another way of saying that leaders of the component parties must remain loyal to Anwar and not raise any issues that might irk him.
Malaysia is supposed to be a democracy where there is room for consultations before major decisions are made.
Who said that Anwar has absolute powers to the extent nobody can question him? If this is so, Anwar might as well crown himself as the king of the country with absolute or extreme powers.
If authoritarian leaders are willing to compromise their stand for reasons of regime stability, what prevents democratically elected leaders from welcoming advice or guidance
Anwar might be the PM but certainly he has no absolute powers to do what he pleases. The so-called reform minded Anwar should gleefully accept MCA’s recommendations especially if these are coming from a component of the Madani government.
The sycophants can say what they want but at the end of the day, it is the people who are going to suffer as a result of bad government policies that could emanate from bad decisions made in cabinet reshuffle.
MCA is spot on
The public has all the right to talk about cabinet reshuffle simply because they have a powerful stake in the system.
I find it nothing wrong for the MCA spokesperson to have suggested that Anwar relinquish his current position as the finance minister, have a replacement or create the post of second Finance Minister and for the removal of some incompetent ministers.
It is just too much for Anwar to hold the positions of PM and Finance Minister simultaneously.
Whether one likes MCA or not, good and rational decisions must be welcomed. The suggestions might come from MCA but these are not new. Others have raised similar suggestions in the recent past.
These suggestions are perfectly within the larger political ambit of rationality. What is terribly wrong to ask Anwar to get rid of incompetent or non-performing ministers?
It is not that Anwar is not aware of this but it took MCA to drive home the point. Obviously, Anwar need not take up the advice for that is his prerogative.
But at the same time, he cannot pretend that everything is fine with the government. As I have pointed in my recent articles, cabinet reshuffle is nothing more than a routine exercise. Too much weight cannot be placed on the reshuffle.
However, under the weight of incompetency, cabinet reshuffle takes on an added significance.
Anyway, Anwar can get the ball rolling by first ceasing to be Finance Minister. He cannot simply hold on to two positions. It might suggest that there is no one competent to helm the Finance Ministry. This is not true at all. – Oct 6, 2023
Prof Ramasamy Palanisamy is the former DAP state assemblyman for Perai. He is also the former deputy chief minister of Penang.
The views expressed are solely of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Focus Malaysia.
Main pic credit: KiniTV
