ID :
53277
Wed, 04/01/2009 - 09:46
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/53277
The shortlink copeid
A LEANER CABINET UNDER NAJIB?
By Syed Azwan Syed Ali
KUALA LUMPUR, April 1 (Bernama) -- Najib Razak, who is set to take over the prime ministership from Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, is expected to introduce a leaner cabinet, analysts said.
They said that a smaller cabinet would be more in tune with the current
situation and in line with the new Umno president's vision to have a line-up
that is solid, efficient and with integrity.
They also expect several ministries to merge to address redundancy among
agencies and create a better coordinated as well as efficient administrative
machinery.
"With a smaller cabinet, wastage of resources can be avoided. The delivery
system can also be improved further," political analyst Associate Prof Dr
Mohammad Agus Yusoff told Bernama Tuesday.
Abdullah said last week that he would seek an audience with Malaysian King
Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin, on Thursday to convey his intention to step down as
prime minister and pave the way for the leadership transition.
Apart from the prime minister and his deputy, there are 29 ministers in 27
ministries, including five in the Prime Minister's Department.
Dr Mohammad Agus foresees that based on the current situation, Najib is
expected to trim down the cabinet to between 20 and 24 ministries, which he said
was the ideal size of the government.
University of Malaya's media and communications lecturer Associate Prof Dr
Abu Hassan Hasbullah said the cabinet could be restructured further, especially
ministries in charge of media, communications and information technology.
"As it is, there is a overlap of functions involving several ministries," he
said, citing the creative industry as an example.
The industry is now being overseen among others, by Filem Negara (National
Film of Malaysia) under the Information Ministry, Film Censorship Board (Home
Ministry), National Film Development Corporation (Unity, Culture, Arts and
Heritage Ministry) and the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission
(Energy, Water and Communications Ministry).
Dr Abu Hassan suggested that the Information Ministry be retained to take
charge of the dissemination of government information, covering television and
radio stations as well as the Malaysian National News Agency (Bernama).
A special ministry should be created, he said, to take charge of the
multimedia and communications industry, including film development.
"The cabinet structure should be set up to reflect pragmatism in line with
the current situation," he said.
Players in the transportation industry echoed the sentiment, with
Pan-Malaysia Bus Operators Association saying that at the moment, the sector was
being looked after by 13 ministries.
"It is better to coordinate all these functions," its president Mohamed
Ashfar Ali said when contacted.
Veteran politician Abu Zahar Ujang said the prime minister had the
prerogative to determine the cabinet size.
Saying that it would be of little use to have a large but inefficient
cabinet, Abu Zahar said, the cabinet line-up would reflect Najib's leadership
style.
"This is the first thing which the people see and judge," Abu Zahar said,
adding that how people assess Najib's cabinet would be reflective of their
support to Umno and Barisan Nasional.
In the Umno (United Malays National Organisation) General Assembly last
week, six ministers lost in the contest for posts -- one for the deputy
presidency, three for the vice-presidencies and two for the Supreme Council
seats.
They are Rural and Regional Development Minister Muhammad Muhd Taib who
contested for the deputy presidency, and Home Minister Syed Hamid Albar, Higher
Education Minister Mohamed Khaled Nordin and Foreign Minister Dr Rais Yatim who
contested for the vice-presidencies.
The two who lost in the contest for the Supreme Council seats are Tourism
Minister Azalina Othman Said and Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister
Shahrir Abdul Samad.
Shahrir had said that he would resign from the post.
Umno is Malaysia's largest politcal party and a founding member of the
Barisan Nasional (National Front)coalition, which has been Malaysia's ruling
political party since it gained independence in 1957.
Dr Mohammad Agus said the choice of cabinet line-up would determine the
country's direction in the years to come before the people would again make
their choice in the 13th general election.
"Cabinet appointment is not for the prime minister to seek popularity but to
put in place leaders who are capable of carrying out the trust given by the
people," he said.
-- BERNAMA
KUALA LUMPUR, April 1 (Bernama) -- Najib Razak, who is set to take over the prime ministership from Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, is expected to introduce a leaner cabinet, analysts said.
They said that a smaller cabinet would be more in tune with the current
situation and in line with the new Umno president's vision to have a line-up
that is solid, efficient and with integrity.
They also expect several ministries to merge to address redundancy among
agencies and create a better coordinated as well as efficient administrative
machinery.
"With a smaller cabinet, wastage of resources can be avoided. The delivery
system can also be improved further," political analyst Associate Prof Dr
Mohammad Agus Yusoff told Bernama Tuesday.
Abdullah said last week that he would seek an audience with Malaysian King
Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin, on Thursday to convey his intention to step down as
prime minister and pave the way for the leadership transition.
Apart from the prime minister and his deputy, there are 29 ministers in 27
ministries, including five in the Prime Minister's Department.
Dr Mohammad Agus foresees that based on the current situation, Najib is
expected to trim down the cabinet to between 20 and 24 ministries, which he said
was the ideal size of the government.
University of Malaya's media and communications lecturer Associate Prof Dr
Abu Hassan Hasbullah said the cabinet could be restructured further, especially
ministries in charge of media, communications and information technology.
"As it is, there is a overlap of functions involving several ministries," he
said, citing the creative industry as an example.
The industry is now being overseen among others, by Filem Negara (National
Film of Malaysia) under the Information Ministry, Film Censorship Board (Home
Ministry), National Film Development Corporation (Unity, Culture, Arts and
Heritage Ministry) and the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission
(Energy, Water and Communications Ministry).
Dr Abu Hassan suggested that the Information Ministry be retained to take
charge of the dissemination of government information, covering television and
radio stations as well as the Malaysian National News Agency (Bernama).
A special ministry should be created, he said, to take charge of the
multimedia and communications industry, including film development.
"The cabinet structure should be set up to reflect pragmatism in line with
the current situation," he said.
Players in the transportation industry echoed the sentiment, with
Pan-Malaysia Bus Operators Association saying that at the moment, the sector was
being looked after by 13 ministries.
"It is better to coordinate all these functions," its president Mohamed
Ashfar Ali said when contacted.
Veteran politician Abu Zahar Ujang said the prime minister had the
prerogative to determine the cabinet size.
Saying that it would be of little use to have a large but inefficient
cabinet, Abu Zahar said, the cabinet line-up would reflect Najib's leadership
style.
"This is the first thing which the people see and judge," Abu Zahar said,
adding that how people assess Najib's cabinet would be reflective of their
support to Umno and Barisan Nasional.
In the Umno (United Malays National Organisation) General Assembly last
week, six ministers lost in the contest for posts -- one for the deputy
presidency, three for the vice-presidencies and two for the Supreme Council
seats.
They are Rural and Regional Development Minister Muhammad Muhd Taib who
contested for the deputy presidency, and Home Minister Syed Hamid Albar, Higher
Education Minister Mohamed Khaled Nordin and Foreign Minister Dr Rais Yatim who
contested for the vice-presidencies.
The two who lost in the contest for the Supreme Council seats are Tourism
Minister Azalina Othman Said and Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister
Shahrir Abdul Samad.
Shahrir had said that he would resign from the post.
Umno is Malaysia's largest politcal party and a founding member of the
Barisan Nasional (National Front)coalition, which has been Malaysia's ruling
political party since it gained independence in 1957.
Dr Mohammad Agus said the choice of cabinet line-up would determine the
country's direction in the years to come before the people would again make
their choice in the 13th general election.
"Cabinet appointment is not for the prime minister to seek popularity but to
put in place leaders who are capable of carrying out the trust given by the
people," he said.
-- BERNAMA
