Five new faces in Malaysian Cabinet, but is reshuffle an indication of ‘undercurrents’ in Umno?
Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s decision to replace Umno deputy president Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan as defence minister in his Cabinet reshuffle was a surprise, particularly as the person who takes over the role is Umno vice-president Datuk Seri Khaled Nordin.
Besides Khaled changing roles – he was previously Higher Education Minister – there are five new faces in Anwar’s Cabinet. They are Gobind Singh Deo (Digital), Datuk Seri Dzulkefly Ahmad (Health), Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani (Plantation and Commodities), Datuk Seri Amir Hamzah Azizan (Finance Minister II) and Steven Sim (Human Resource).
Political analyst Associate Professor Dr Azeem Fazwan Ahmad Farouk said Mohamad’s “demotion” to Foreign Affairs minister could signal “something is happening in Umno”.
“Don’t get me wrong. The Foreign Affairs Ministry is still an important position, but it is not a senior role, unlike the defence portfolio,” said Azeem, adding that there is more than meets the eye behind the move.
“I would have expected Tok Mat (Mohamad) to remain in defence or be moved to another ministry of equal importance. The Foreign Affairs (Ministry) is an ‘elitist’ ministry. He will not get much opportunity to speak to the grassroots, as he would have to spend time meeting diplomats and ambassadors.
“I am surprised that Umno allowed this to happen... unless, of course, it is by design, to put Tok Mat in cold storage.”
Mohamad, who became defence minister a year ago, was recently accused of being involved in the Littoral Combat Ship scandal but denied any involvement in the deal as it happened before he took office.
The allegations, which Mohamad described as “baseless”, surfaced in August. He added that it was an attempt to tarnish his reputation.
Azeem said that while Umno has no chance of making a comeback in the next general election, it still plays a vital role in Anwar’s so-called ‘unity government’. But not every member of the party is on board with the idea of working with Pakatan Harapan.
“There are strong undercurrents in Umno that are hard to read, but it is a well-known fact that many members are not happy working with Pakatan Harapan,” said Azeem, who pointed to the sacking of Umno Supreme Council member Isham Jalil on Dec 6 as an indication that the party leadership would not tolerate criticism.
Isham had been vocal about Umno’s leadership and blamed its president, Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, for the party’s decline. Khaled had come out strongly for the decision to sack Isham, saying that the latter had “undermined Umno’s integrity”.
“And suddenly, Khaled has been rewarded with a senior government role, while the deputy president was moved to the Foreign Affairs Ministry,” said Azeem, director of the Centre for Policy Research, Universiti Sains Malaysia.
“I will not be surprised if we see changes in the Umno leadership soon.”
Azeem, however, said that since Anwar had shuffled his deck, the people should give him time to implement his ideas.
“He spent a year appeasing the many parties in his grand coalition – or unity government as some called it – but the real work starts now,” said Azeem.
“As I mentioned before, Anwar’s problem is that his party is weak, as it does not have many seats in Parliament.
“He had to be careful with his decisions. I feel he has made some cosmetic changes to the line-up, although he has brought in some good people. So, I hope it works out.”
Asked his thoughts on Sultan Ibrahim Iskandar’s interview with a Singapore newspaper, in which the Johor ruler said that he wanted to play a bigger role when he becomes Malaysia’s 17th Yang di-Pertuan Agong next month, Azeem replied: “I do not think the move (the Cabinet reshuffle) was in response to Tuanku’s comments.
“The reshuffle was a long time coming, and it was a coincidence that it happened after our future king’s comments.”
New Cabinet line-up
Prime Minister: Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim
Deputy Prime Ministers: Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof
Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office
Law and Institutional Reform Minister: Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said
Deputy Minister: M. Kulasegaran
Religious Minister: Datuk Mohd Na’im Mokhtar
Deputy Minister: Dr Zulkifli Hasan
Federal Territories Minister: Dr Zaliha Mustafa
Agriculture and Food Security Minister: Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu
Deputy Minister: Datuk Arthur Joseph Kurup
Communications Minister: Ahmad Fahmi Mohamed Fadzil
Deputy Minister: Teo Nie Ching
Defence Minister: Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin
Deputy Minister: Adly Zahari
Digital Minister: Gobind Singh Deo
Deputy Minister: Datuk Ugak Kumbong
Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Minister: Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali
Deputy Minister: Fuziah Salleh
Economic Minister: Rafizi Ramli
Deputy Minister: Datuk Hanifah Hajar Taib
Education Minister: Fadhlina Sidek
Deputy Minister: Wong Kah Woh
Energy Transition and Public Utilities Minister: Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof
Deputy Minister: Akmal Nasrullah Mohd Nasir
Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives Minister: Ewon Benedick
Deputy Minister: Datuk R. Ramanan
Finance Minister 1: Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim
Finance Minister 2: Datuk Seri Amir Hamzah Azizan
Deputy Minister: Lim Hui Ying
Foreign Affairs Minister: Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan
Deputy Minister: Datuk Mohamad Alamin
Health Minister: Datuk Seri Dzulkefly Ahmad
Deputy Minister: Datuk Lukanisman Awang Sauni
Higher Education Minister: Datuk Seri Zambry Abd Kadir
Deputy Minister: Datuk Mustapha @ Mohd Yunus Sakmud
Human Resource Minister: Steven Sim
Deputy Minister: Datuk Seri Abdul Rahman Mohamad
Home Minister: Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail
Deputy Minister: Datuk Seri Dr Shamsul Anuar Nasarah
International Trade and Industry Minister: Datuk Seri Tengku Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz
Deputy Minister: Liew Chin Tong
Local Government Development Minister: Nga Kor Ming
Deputy Minister: Datuk Aiman Athirah Sabu
National Unity Minister: Aaron Ago Anak Dagang
Deputy Minister: K. Saraswathy
Natural Resources and Sustainability Minister: Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad
Deputy Minister: Datuk Seri Huang Tiong Sii
Plantation and Commodities Minister: Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani
Deputy Minister: Datuk Chan Foong Hin
Rural and Regional Development Minister: Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi
Deputy Minister: Datuk Rubiah Wang
Science, Technology and Innovation Minister: Chang Lih Kang
Deputy Minister: Datuk Mohamad Yusof Apdal
Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister: Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing
Deputy Minister: Khairul Firdaus Akbar Khan
Transport Minister: Anthony Loke
Deputy Minister: Datuk Hasbi Mohamad Sabu
Women Development, Family and Community Minister: Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri
Deputy Minister: Datuk Seri Noraini Ahmad
Works Minister: Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi
Deputy Minister: Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan
Youth and Sports Minister: Hannah Yeoh
Deputy Minister: Adam Adli Abdul Halim
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