KUALA LUMPUR – The cabinet announced by newly minted Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob today has one notable exclusion – Umno’s Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said.
The Pengerang MP had resigned as deputy Dewan Rakyat speaker just last Monday – citing conflict of interest – fuelling speculation that she would be included in the new cabinet.
Immediately following Ismail Sabri’s announcement today, opposition MPs reacted in shock to the omission of Azalina, despite several “new” faces making the list.
Speaking to The Vibes, PKR communications director Fahmi Fadzil said her absence from the cabinet is a terrible waste of talent and was the decision that caught his attention the most.
This, he said, is especially baffling with non-performing ministers in the previous Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin’s administration being kept, including Datuk Seri Dr Adham Baba, who is now science, technology and innovation minister, and Datuk Seri Rina Harun, who keeps her women, family and community development portfolio.
The appointment of Datuk Seri Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar as the new law and parliamentary minister, however, received the thumbs up from Fahmi, who sees the former as a capable leader in matters of law.
Now, the Lembah Pantai MP hopes Ismail Sabri will replace Dewan Rakyat Speaker Datuk Azhar Azizan Harun with Azalina, a historic move that would result in Malaysia’s first ever woman speaker.
“I think it would be a fantastic change. And, because of her experience in various roles in the past, I think her appointment would be a boon for Parliament.
“She would certainly pursue a number of reforms. In that light, a pairing of Azalina and Wan Junaidi will be positive for the August House.”
Beyond this, Fahmi said the new cabinet appears to be “old ketchup in a new bottle”, with largely the same faces reappointed, and is one that does not bring much hope to the people amid the Covid-19 pandemic.
Similarly, Amanah secretary-general and Lumut MP Datuk Mohd Hatta Md Ramli said Azalina’s absence in the cabinet is surprising, but believes she will be given another important role to play, such as Dewan Rakyat speaker or adviser to the prime minister.
On rumours she might be given House’s top post, Hatta said she has all the qualities to make for a brilliant speaker, going by her vision for parliamentary reforms and past statements and debates.
“I can foresee that, if she is the speaker, there will be huge hope for significant changes. For instance, if she has her way, parliamentary select committees can be more powerful and influential.
“I think that would be really good. And, I believe if there is anyone from the government who is most capable of chairing the House, it is her.”
On the lack of a deputy prime minister in Ismail Sabri’s cabinet, Hatta said this is a good move to avoid further squabbling and reduce the political temperature in the country, adding that an appointment to the highly coveted post can still be made in the future when the situation improves.
DAP’s Segambut MP Hannah Yeoh is on the same page as her Pakatan Harapan colleagues, as far as Azalina’s exclusion is concerned.
Taking to Twitter, she said: “Children will have no reliable spokesman. How can Azalina be excluded? I now want Ismail to make her the speaker for greater check and balance.”
Yeoh had previously suggested Azalina either as home, law or women’s minister, or all simultaneously, saying she has the qualities to helm all three at one go.
For Umno, Azalina as speaker not a wise move
Meanwhile, Umno’s Padang Rengas lawmaker Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz said Azalina’s exclusion from the cabinet is not surprising as she falls behind the pecking order to several other leaders in the party, who were all given a place in the new cabinet.
They are Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim (Federal Territories minister), Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid (rural development minister) and Tan Sri Noh Omar (entrepreneur development and cooperatives minister).
“I don’t think it was much of a shock. She wasn’t in contention in the first place. I think Shahidan, Mahdzir and Noh Omar deserved it more in terms of their service and seniority. They were also overlooked in Muhyiddin’s cabinet. So, now it is corrected.”
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On the prospect of Azalina being the new speaker, Nazri said this is highly unlikely, as it would mean Umno losing one vote on the floor, weakening the government that only has the backing of 114 MPs.
“She can’t be speaker because then, we will lose one more vote. It wouldn’t be the right thing to do. I don’t think Ismail Sabri would do that.”
On criticism that the new cabinet is made up largely of the same lawmakers from Muhyiddin’s administration, which failed to steer the country out of troubled waters, Nazri said: “I don’t think the past government failed, but we were just going after the prime minister.”
“I don’t think it’s right to say the government failed. But now with Ismail Sabri helming the administration, he brings stability, an important quality to reduce the political temperature today.
“By changing the head (of government), we are now much more stable. I feel Ismail Sabri is the right man to lead the country. He’s a very calm, steady person, and is able to cooperate with the opposition.” – The Vibes, August 27, 2021
