THERE is a need to constantly monitor and evaluate the performances of the newly-appointed ministers and deputy ministers while also listening to public feedback and decisively replace these Cabinet members if they have been found to under-perform.
MCA Youth deputy chairman Mike Chong Yew Chuan’s comment came following the Cabinet reshuffle yesterday, which saw changes in several portfolios as well as the appointments of several old and new faces.
“Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim is urged to constantly monitor and evaluate the performances of these ministers and deputies. He also needs to listen to public feedback and decisively replace them when necessary to keep them on their toes,” he said in a statement on Wednesday (Dec 13).
“When they hold office, all ministers are expected to fulfil their duties and work for the greater good of the rakyat.”
Chong also applauded the prime minister’s move to create a second Finance Minister (MOF II) post, which he said is consistent with the suggestion he had made whereby he had called on Anwar to appoint an MOF II to deal with economic issues.
“This is so that the prime minister – who also wields the Finance Minister post – can concentrate on the tasks and leadership as demanded by his position,” he added.
“It is our hope that the prime minister, via the assistance of an MOF II, will be able to devote more time and energy towards managing national policies and leading the entire Executive to ensure that every minister and deputy minister strive diligently to steer national development in the right direction.”
Touching on the move to split the Communication and Digital Ministry as well as the Natural Resources, Environment and Climate Change Ministry into two, Chong pointed out that this “detracted from what the prime minister said when he took office”.
“The rakyat are left disappointed as the additional ministries also contravene Pakatan Harapan’s promises to reduce a bloated Cabinet,” he remarked.
“It is the aspiration of the rakyat that the latest Cabinet reshuffle will shift away past practices of political party considerations and truly achieve the goal of merit-based technocrats who may govern the country.”
The announcement saw the number of ministers in the Cabinet expanded from 28 to 31, while the number of deputy ministers was increased from 27 to 29, bringing the total number of unity government administrative members to 60.
In contrast, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, who was prime minister for 17 months from March 2020, had appointed 32 ministers and 38 deputies.
Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob, who took over the reins in Aug 2021, had a cabinet of 31 ministers with 38 deputies. – Dec 13, 2023
Main pic credit: The Star
