THE cabinet reshuffle by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim today is about steering the Madani unity government into the second phase of governance, which is on delivering promises made to the people, said an analyst and former parliamentarian.
Yusmadi Yusoff, who is a former aide to Anwar, said that the first phase consists of understanding the deficiencies inherited from the previous government, and now the reshuffle signals a shift towards implementing meaningful governance.
For example, the introduction of technocrat Datuk Seri Amir Hamzah Azizah as the second finance minister signals that Anwar wants “technical and private sector” expertise in managing public finances in an uncertain global climate.
“It also underlines the importance that Anwar places on regrowing the economy as the happiness index of any nation is tied specifically to the economic matters,” said Yusmadi, a former MP for Balik Pulau.
Amir headed Tenaga Nasional Bhd and recently the Employees Provident Fund with a degree of distinction, so he brings high expectations in managing the economy on a better footing, Yusmadi added in an interview.
The inclusion of another financial specialist, Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani, as the primary industries and commodities minister is important in reclaiming Malaysia’s stature as a leading exporter of strategic agricultural commodities such as oil palm.
“If we ramp up our production in commodities, we will surely also increase our food security levels. Johari has the expertise in the commercialisation of our plantations,” Yusmadi opined.
He said that the cabinet is empowered and under pressure to some degree to meet expectations where he personally hopes more attention can be allocated towards stabilising living costs.
Another interesting inclusion is the academic Zulkifli Hasan, a former dean of Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia’s faculty of shariah and law.
“Zulkifli brings about the experience to enhance religious education in the country. Besides empowering understanding of the Quran, there is also a need to pick up additional soft skills such as mastering English,” Yusmadi explained.
The academic can help in reforming community religious schools (sekolah pondok) to ensure that they are financially sound while the curriculum makes the graduates competitive in this age of technology, he added.
Dzulkefly’s track record in MOH
Meanwhile, the Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) lauded the return of Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad as health minister, having formerly served in that capacity from 2018 to 2020.
MMA president Dr Azizan Abdul Aziz said that he is well-equipped to address the complex issues and challenges within the healthcare system due to his proven track record, experience and strong leadership qualities.
“MMA had a good working relationship with Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly,” Dr Azizan said in a statement. “He was willing to listen to the views of experts and held regular engagements with stakeholders on any policy decisions. He was also willing to make unpopular decisions when needed, (like the smoking ban at eateries), to protect public health.”
“The MMA expresses confidence Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly will perform his duties well as he had done before.”
Dr Azizan said the association eagerly looks forward to the opportunity to engage and work closely with him once again. – The Vibes, December 12, 2023
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