PERIKATAN Nasional (PN) chairman Muhyiddin Yassin has slammed Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim for appointing a kleptocrat to his cabinet.

The former prime minister was referring to Anwar appointing Ahmad Zahid Hamidi as his deputy despite earlier being vocal on clean governance.

“This is the most disappointing cabinet line-up in the country’s history, when a person who has been told to enter his defence on 47 charges of criminal breach of trust, corruption, and money-laundering, is appointed deputy prime minister.

“Anwar’s act is akin to selling the country’s dignity so that he can remain prime minister,” the Pagoh MP said in a statement on Facebook.

Anwar also named Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu senior vice-president Fadillah Yusof, who is representing Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) as the second deputy prime minister.

Zahid’s appointment received mixed reactions from the public as the Barisan Nasional (BN) chief still faces 47 graft charges.

Many said Zahid’s appointment sends the wrong message about Anwar’s anti-corruption stance, while others view the move as a necessary evil to ensure stability in a government made up of political rivals.

Muhyiddin branded Anwar’s newly formed cabinet as a “kleptocratic cabinet”, and has no legitimacy to function as the country’s highest executive body.

The former prime minister also slammed Anwar for holding the Finance Ministry portfolio, which he said could lead to the centralisation of power.

“How can the people and investors trust Anwar’s leadership, when he has clearly lied to the whole world about his anti-graft, institutional reform, and people’s welfare agenda?

“His reform agenda rings hollow when he is not even able to stand up in defence of his own party’s struggle to fight corruption and promote good governance.

“His worth as a true leader worthy of respect and dignity is now highly questionable,” Muhyiddin added.

Muhyiddin was the rival claimant for the prime minister’s post but the participation of BN and GPS in Anwar’s unity government had allowed the latter to form the government. – December 3, 2022.