Mixed reactions from netizens over Anwar’s cabinet picks

JOHOR BARU – While it was already anticipated that Umno president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi will make the cut for the highly anticipated cabinet line-up following the formation of a unity government, the move was not received well by Malaysian netizens. 

One complaint by the online community was over Zahid’s ongoing corruption cases, as the Bagan Datuk MP is facing 47 counts of money laundering and criminal breach of trust involving millions of ringgit from Yayasan Akalbudi and accepting bribes for various projects during his tenure as home minister.

Twitter user @HafizRayyan was among those that questioned Zahid’s appointment as the deputy prime minister. 

He also questioned Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s pick of banker turned politician Datuk Seri Tengku Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz as the international trade and industries minister. 

“Nga Kor Ming also appointed as minister. Umno warlord (Datuk Seri) Mohamed Khaled Nordin is the higher education minister?” asked Hafiz. 

However, there were others who congratulated Zahid on his return to the cabinet. 

“Thank God. Congratulations on your return to duty DSZH (Zahid). It’s a pity you are not taking control of the home ministry… then only will the opponents squeal,” Arif Fahmi Zahari commented on Zahid’s Facebook.

Twitter user @JuliaJemain meanwhile said that Anwar’s appointment of Zahid boosted the latter’s chances of retaining his Umno presidency in the party’s internal election, which would take place sometime next year. 

Netizens have also questioned how Tengku Zafrul made the list while Datuk Seri Dzulkefly Ahmad of Amanah, who defeated the former for the Kuala Selangor parliamentary seat in the recently concluded 15th general election, was sidelined. 

Muar MP Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman, who did not make the cut for Anwar’s cabinet, appeared to take the joke well when @_siggplus questioned whether he was not included “because Anwar saw the video of him playing badminton” 

Despite the discontent, Hannah Yeoh of DAP’s appointment as youth and sports minister was received well by the public. 

Anwar had earlier announced a 28-strong cabinet line-up which includes 13 ministers from Pakatan Harapan, nine from Barisan Nasional, three from Gabungan Parti Sarawak, one from Gerakan Rakyat Sabah, as well as two senators. – The Vibes, December 2, 2022