GEORGE TOWN – Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob must prove his commitment to handling the health and economic crises by forming a small cabinet, said political analysts.
This comes as pundits have also taken note of the positive attitude displayed by Malaysia’s ninth prime minister, who wasted no time in immediately engaging the federal opposition after being appointed into office by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.
Too many chefs spoil the broth
Sivamurugan Pandian, a professor of political sociology at Universiti Sains Malaysia, told The Vibes that the cabinet has to shrink, as bloated as it was in the previous government.
“The first thing they must do is revisit the previous cabinet’s whole structure. It should be small and comprise quality members, and the rakyat will appreciate that because what matters most is quality, not quantity.
“Before, there were too many portfolios and ministries. Now I think the cabinet should be set up to manage the crisis,” he said.
Though the government needs a reputable, credible, and small cabinet comprising those with expertise, experience and who are also beyond political interests, Sivamurugan said he does not think a unity cabinet is currently possible.
However, the academic said that Ismail Sabri can form a national recovery council that comprises both the ruling parties and opposition bloc.
He said this can be used as a mechanism to tackle issues relating to the people, wherein the council can be formed with a composition of 50% government MPs and 50% opposition reps.
“The council can take in 50/50 from each bloc just to focus on the pandemic.”
Ismail Sabri must remain strong against jostling for posts
Similarly, political scientist Wong Chin Huat said that the cabinet should go back to the Pakatan Harapan (PH) level at 55 cabinet members.
To look good, 55 members will look substantially different from Muhyiddin’s 70.
Nevertheless, Wong also warned that the various parties and factions in the ruling coalition would try to capitalise on Ismail Sabri’s weak start by making demands for a bigger share of the political pie – which would result in a greater loss of autonomy for the Bera MP compared with his predecessor.
“Despite this, Ismail Sabri must be bold to insist on having some stars – definitely Khairy Jamaluddin but perhaps also Tan Sri Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah, who did not vote for him – in senior positions. He must not worry about being outshined by people because he is still the boss.
“He must also remove some deadwood from the past cabinet. The most obvious one is former health minister Dr Adham Baba.
“Finally, leaving Umno’s ‘court cluster’ out is the public’s and international investors’ expectation, not just Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin’s demand, which he cannot negotiate,” said Wong, who had also asked The Vibes to refer to his column in MalaysiaKini when asked for comments.
Furthermore, he said that if the cabinet is formed purely on consideration of immediate survival and little on merit, the entire coalition will pay heavily in GE15 for underperformance.
A Federal State Council with key ministers, MBs, CMs, opposition
The political observer advised Ismail Sabri to be bold and set up a Federal State Council (FSC) on economic recovery and health.
Wong said that as prime minister, Ismail Sabri should chair the council with the parliamentary opposition leader as the deputy, with members comprising key ministers, senior MPs, all 13 menteri besar and chief ministers, and experts drawn in from society.
“In other words, let the FSC replace the National Recovery Council (NRC) or National Security Council in dictating major policy decisions on economy and health.
“It is almost a national consensus now that our current political structure cannot cope with the pandemic,” said Wong.
Alternatively, the academic said that the prime minister could sideline elected politicians in favour of technocrats, as in Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s NRC and Datuk Seri Nazir Razak’s Better Malaysia Assembly.
Another option for Ismail Sabri is widening the base of elected politicians, as in the “unity government” that has been pushed by DAP’s Lim Kit Siang and election activist and lawyer Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan.
The Umno vice-president can also opt to adopt the “war cabinet” proposed by his colleagues Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said and Datuk Asyraf Wajdi Marzuki in the party’s Supreme Council, without involving state governments.
“The FSC can bring in all three sectors: the opposition, state governments, and experts in society.
“It would allow Ismail Sabri to have the benefit of a war cabinet/unity government without complicating portfolio negotiation and getting technocratic input outside the bureaucracy without alienating parties and MPs.
“Most of all, he can build state-level support for himself and may incentivise richer states like Selangor, Johor, and Penang to put resources into the pandemic fight like building modular hospitals if the number continues to rise,” Wong said. – The Vibes, August 22, 2021
