What new Cabinet? It’s just a reshuffle, say MPs

Segambut MP Hannah Yeoh is upset that Azalina Othman Said was not made a minister and wants to see her appointed the Dewan Rakyat speaker, at least.

PETALING JAYA: MPs were not impressed by the new Cabinet line-up announced by Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob, with many pointing out that it was very similar to the previous one under Muhyiddin Yassin, with only minor reshuffles.

“It is really a game of musical chairs with the same people rotating offices in Putrajaya,” Segambut MP Hannah Yeoh told FMT.

Yeoh said Ismail’s Cabinet was not any better than Muhyiddin’s Cabinet.

“I am very upset that Pengerang MP Azalina Othman is not named as one of the ministers but I’m glad Takiyuddin Hassan is no longer the law minister. I hope Ismail will make Azalina the Dewan Rakyat speaker for greater check and balance.”

Yeoh, a former deputy women, family and community development minister, said she was disappointed with the decision to retain Rina Harun as the women, family and community development minister.

“Once again, children and women will have no reliable spokesman fighting for them,” she said.

Subang MP Wong Chen said while the new Cabinet line-up looked largely the same with minor reshuffles, he lauded the decision to change the health minister.

“The prime minister played safe but his decision will not be enough to satisfy the public desire for meaningful changes. I also don’t think this will provide political stability within Umno, as the team that brought down Muhyiddin has not made any gains.”

In a Twitter post, Bakri MP Yeo Bee Yin shared a similar opinion, saying: “Actually, this sounds more like a Cabinet reshuffle.”

Meanwhile, Kangar MP Noor Amin Ahmad noted that there were several ministries helmed by ministers and deputies from the same party.

“It is quite interesting that there are several ministries with ministers and deputies from the same parties such as the religious affairs and foreign affairs ministries,” he said.

For the religious affairs ministry, both the minister and his deputy are from PAS while for the foreign affairs ministry, both are from Bersatu.

Padang Rengas MP Nazri Aziz said it was a good Cabinet with minor changes from the previous administration.

“It is a good Cabinet. It is good that Ismail can retain the same Cabinet members with minor reshuffles. It shows that the coalition can remain strong until the next general election.”

FMT