KUCHING – Datuk Seri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah believes Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim will not forget Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) and the Sarawak government’s aspirations in the formation of his cabinet.
While he acknowledged that filling the cabinet is a tough task, the state tourism, creative industry and performing arts minister said Sarawak is hoping Anwar will maintain the state’s previous four full ministerial posts.
“We had four full ministers in the cabinet. Our hope is that as our premier (Tan Sri Abang Johari Openg) had mentioned yesterday, we hope that the four minister posts can still remain for Sarawak,” he told a press conference on the national-level Arab and Chinese calligraphy competition here today.
Karim noted that it would be a heavy task for any prime minister to assemble a cabinet smaller than previous administrations, while appeasing various political coalitions that have supported him.
“We do know that establishing a cabinet and satisfying the involved parties in a unity government is indeed a very difficult task for whoever becomes the prime minister.
“Although the new cabinet will be trimmed down, if we can still maintain the four, of course, it will be good.”
Anwar was granted an audience with the Yang di-Pertuan Agong this morning.
Although he did not reveal the agenda, the Pakatan Harapan chairman said discussions on the appointment of his cabinet line-up were almost completed and he hoped to announce it soon.
Anwar’s unity government comprises Barisan Nasional and the ruling coalitions in Sabah and Sarawak, namely GPS and Gabungan Rakyat Sabah.
It also has the support of MPs from Muda, Warisan, Parti Bangsa Malaysia, and Parti Kesejahteraan Demokratik Masyarakat, as well as two independents. – Borneo Post Online, December 2, 2022
