PRIME Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob should take over the plantation industries and commodities minister’s post vacated by Zuraida Kamaruddin, instead of appointing something new to the position, DAP national organising secretary Steven Sim said.

This, Sim said, will prevent parties in the ruling pact from competing against each other for the position following Zuraida’s unexpected resignation on Thursday.

On May 26, Ampang MP Zuraida announced that she was vacating her ministerial post and leaving Bersatu to join Parti Bangsa Malaysia.

“I suggest that Ismail take over the post without pay until the current parliamentary term expires,” said Sim, who is also the Bukit Mertajam MP.

Sim said it is more sensible for the prime minister to occupy the post as any newly appointed minister will need time – several months, probably – to form and finalise his or her team.

He also listed four other reasons why he believes Ismail should not appoint someone new to the post.

As there are now 68 ministers in the administration not including ambassadors and advisers, he said, this move will help reduce the “giant” cabinet size.

“It is wasteful, especially when the government has failed to address various problems faced by the people since the pandemic and more recently, the management of poultry subsidies,” he said.

The role of the plantation industries and commodities minister has already evolved three times in just five years, which, Sim said, carries a negative impact on both the industry and the ministry.

“If Ismail takes over, it will increase the stability within the ministry, and no major changes will need to be implemented in terms of policy or organisational structure,” he said.

Sim said by doing this, the prime minister will be in a good position to provide strong leadership and rejuvenate the domestic plantation sector.

Apart from that, he said, the power struggle between Umno-led Barisan Nasional and Bersatu-led Perikatan Nasional can also be controlled.

“The ongoing power struggle between the two coalitions is no secret, and if Ismail does not appoint a new minister, he will not offend any party in the government that is vying for that post,” Sim said, adding that it will also compel other component parties in the government to focus on governing the country better.

He added that the government will also reduce its operational expenses, especially now that inflation has been reported to hit the country. – May 29, 2022.