Muhyiddin’s clean govt vow stymies cabinet set-up

Jahabar Sadiq Jahabar Sadiq Updated 4 years ago · Published on 3 Mar 2020 7:00AM · 6 Comments

Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin is finalising his cabinet but the task is complicated by his allies making specific demands for senior jobs. – EPA pic, March 3, 2020.

MUHYIDDIN Yassin might take a longer time to form his cabinet as his pledge to only name clean individuals is complicated by eligible Umno lawmakers who face multiple criminal charges and supporters who demand choice posts.

The new prime minister made the promise yesterday, a day after being sworn in to succeed Dr Mahathir Mohamad, who still claims he has the number to regain the post.

“Everyone wants (his) dream post and expects to get it but Muhyiddin’s remarks end the possibility of naming some top leaders,” said a government insider privy to the lists being sent to the country’s eighth prime minister.

“That means delaying the final list as the clean ones or even those not facing any court case are very few,” he added.

In contrast, Dr Mahathir took three days to name a core cabinet, including the DPM and three other ministers, after being sworn in as prime minister on May 10, 2018. He then named 10 others later on May 21 and the rest of his 28-member cabinet on July 2 that year.

Muhyiddin’s scratch Perikatan Nasional coalition is made up of his Bersatu with PKR rebels, including sacked deputy president Azmin Ali, Umno, MCA, MIC, PBRS which form the rump Barisan Nasional (BN) and PAS. Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) supports the pact but is not in it.

Leaders of these parties said it’s up to Muhyiddin to distribute the cabinet posts but The Malaysian Insight has learnt that some have made specific demands or have expectations of senior jobs.

Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi is facing more criminal charges than his predecessor and former prime minister Najib Razak.

Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi is facing 47 charges yet expects a senior post in the new Perikatan Nasional government. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Hasnoor Hussain, March 3, 2020.

Zahid’s deputy, Mohamad Hasan, is not a federal MP while prominent ones, such as Khairy Jamaluddin, Hishammuddin Hussein and Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah, do not hold senior party posts. The only ranking MP is vice-president Ismail Sabri Yaakob.

Umno is also riven by factionalism among the MPs and Muhyiddin will have to thread through a minefield to name his choices from the party.

“All Umno factions will want a seat on the table,” said an Umno party source.

The 72-year-old cancer survivor will also have to appease the Azmin group from PKR with senior posts and balance that with demands from his core supporters in Bersatu. Azmin’s group joined Bersatu but remain a distinct group.

“They didn’t switch support for nothing. All of them expect something good,” the government insider said, noting that the PAS lawmakers would be the easiest to appease.

“PAS is finally part of the federal government. That is already an achievement for most of them.”

Apart from the cabinet, Muhyiddin will have to replace attorney-general Tommy Thomas who resigned last Friday. The choice will be crucial to determine if he will continue with prosecuting Umno lawmakers.

The prime minister met the chiefs of the armed forces and police yesterday and is due to meet the heads of all other government departments this week while finalising his cabinet choices.

In his speech last night, he pledged to prioritise efforts to raise integrity, good governance, tackle cost-of-living issues, education and make healthcare more accessible.

He said his government will also focus on the Shared Prosperity Vision 2030, which was started by PH. – March 3, 2020.

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Comments

  • Pakatan harapan never steal people money and corrupt practice.Umno steal government money and corrupt.Pas collect raayat maney for its own gain .Perikatan national is not legitimate government cheating by figure until go back to parliment for mandate.

    Posted 4 years ago by Yutian Lee · Reply

  • Muhyiddin made a deal with the devil in order to get the top post. He sabotaged the legitimate government who won the mandate through Elections and their 5 year term has not ended. I wish him good luck .

    Posted 4 years ago by Patrick Teng · Reply

  • A bit too early to publish this article, wait for the actual composition.

    Posted 4 years ago by A Subscriber · Reply

  • Do not have enough clean people to form government? Then why usurp the power?

    Look before you leap, else you just make yourself a laughing stock to the world.

    Posted 4 years ago by Tanahair Ku · Reply

  • The nation is waiting to see your cabinet line up for obvious reasons and also are you going to agreed original plan schedule of the Parliament sitting next week or are you going to push it further in order to anchor your seat. The majority of us unseat the bastards & crooks of dumno only to see them resurface through technical means which not our taste at all so be warned comes next GE if not sooner.

    Posted 4 years ago by Teruna Kelana · Reply

  • One crook from UMNO or PAS in the cabinet will make the whole world laugh, and your reign will be just for this term ... hahaha

    Posted 4 years ago by Tanahair Ku · Reply