KUALA LUMPUR – DAP lawmaker Hannah Yeoh believes Umno’s Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said has all the qualities required to helm three ministries at one go, including the highly coveted home minister’s post.
Speaking to Astro Awani last night, the Segambut MP said newly minted Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob ought to consider Azalina to helm among the country’s most important portfolios as he finalises his cabinet line-up.
Ismail Sabri is expected to produce the names to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong in his audience today before making an official announcement.
“I feel it will be good for the new prime minister to pick Azalina as the new home minister. And, if he can’t, she has to be law or women minister.
“Preferably, if she can do all three, that will be wonderful. I believe she can,” Yeoh said in her interview, parts of which was uploaded on her Twitter account.
Interview saya bersama @501Awani. PM @IsmailSabri60 tolong pilih @AzalinaOthmanS sebagai:
— Hannah Yeoh (@hannahyeoh) August 24, 2021
- Menteri Dalam Negeri;
- Menteri Undang-Undang;
- Menteri Wanita; atau
- Ketiga3 jawatan sekali. @yeobeeyin pernah pegang 3 portfolio. Azalina utamakan isu kanak-kanak. pic.twitter.com/PiNnZadxP5
She said among others, Azalina, who had only just resigned as deputy Dewan Rakyat speaker on Monday, is consultative, citing her engagement with the opposition in discussions on reforms and policies.
Yeoh said the idea of having Azalina helm three ministries is not farfetched, seeing that DAP’s Bakri MP Yeo Bee Yin had done the same during Pakatan Harapan’s time in power, holding the energy, science, technology, environment and climate change portfolios.
Prior to that, the ministry was divided into three – science, technology and innovation, energy, green technology and water, and natural resources and environment.
Under the Perikatan Nasional administration, Yeo’s ministry was again divided, this time to science, technology and innovation, environment, energy and natural resources.
In Azalina’s case, Yeoh said the Home Ministry now needs a woman leader, considering the issues of citizenship, marriages, divorces and stateless children parked under the ministry.
“A lot of times, we see the ministry as the prized possessions given to very powerful, senior men in any political party... Unfortunately, we have not seen any home ministers dealing with the (aforementioned) issues.”
In response, Azalina said it was an honour to have the comments come from Yeoh, and vowed to continue working together on common issues of concern. – The Vibes, August 25, 2021
TQ YB. This is indeed an honor coming from you ? Whatever happens, we’ll continue to work together on common issues of concern. Insyallah https://t.co/RzCbZRmW4X
— Azalina Othman Said (@AzalinaOthmanS) August 24, 2021
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