SIBU, Aug 21: Newly appointed Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob needs to appoint capable ministers to assist him especially in the area of health and the economy, says Senator Robert Lau.
The Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) Bawang Assan chairman in a statement said this was important so as to address the high Covid-19 infection rate and the worsening economy.
Lau opined that the Bera MP would be expected to keep most of the ministers from the PN government or at the very least to keep the portfolios for the same parties as with the previous government.
“This will prevent infighting over positions in the Cabinet among the different parties that support him. It looks very much like a continuity of the previous PN government in terms of ministers and policies.
“The group of 11 Umno law makers and the PH MPs failed to force a major change in terms of policies,” he said.
However, he said the real pity has been the missed opportunity to carry out major reforms that were offered by former Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin in order to get the support from the Opposition MPs.
“Except for two DAP MPs who asked for this offer to be seriously considered, it was cynically and quickly shot down by all the Opposition leaders. This was despite what was offered was what they had been fighting for all along, or at least that’s what they said. It was a case of putting political interest above the people’s interest,” said Lau.
He said people can call Muhyiddin a desperate leader for making such an offer, but it also took a brave person to do so.
“It was nonetheless an offer that was worthy of consideration. And a rare one. This was a black swan event. Malaysia could have been looking forward to a major reform next week had the opposition accepted the offer,” he added. — DayakDaily
