KUCHING: By giving four full minister and seven deputy minister posts to Sarawak, Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin is saying ‘thank you’ to Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS), said political observer Datuk Peter Minos.
He said this showed that the Prime Minister was happy with GPS and the chief minister.
“The ministerial allocation is pretty fair and reasonable but a little of a surprise that Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) got no appointment.
“Anyway it was the prime minister’s prerogative,” said Minos.
He said Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) should be happy with four full minister with three deputy minister posts.
Minos said Progressive Democratic Party (PDP) and Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) got one deputy minister each, while two independents got in.
“I am sure these ministers and deputy ministers will try and do their best for Sarawak.
“Now is the time for them to follow up on the return of Sarawak’s powers under the Malaysia Agreement 1963 and Petronas to pay up what’s due to Sarawak, on top of doing other things.
“If Sarawak ministers can do it with guidance from our chief minister, Sarawakians will salute them all,” he said.
Minos added that he was confident Perikatan Nasional and Muhyiddin would listen and not forsake Sarawak.
Regarding the Cabinet as a whole, Minos said the most impressive was the appointment of the ex-CIMB chief executive officer as the minister of Finance.
“This is very good. We cannot afford to have MoF like the previous Pakatan Harapan (PH) who played too much politics and who really pressed Sarawak down, aggressively and openly.
“We want our MoF to look after national finance well, increasing revenues at all times and spending very wisely and prudently as well as treating Malaysians fairly and justly,” Minos added.
Minos said the post was so important that the man holding it must be professional, able, effective, fair to all, clean and straight and having a lot of commonsense.
He said Muhyiddin made a very good gesture to Sarawak by appointing Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof as Works Minister, adding that Sarawakians could now hope that the Pan Borneo Highway project would be completed on time and within the funds allocated.
Minos said this massive project was vital for development in Sarawak.
He added that one good thing on the Cabinet was the non-appointment of those already charged in court for various crimes.
“Malaysians are sick and fed up of 1MDB scandals and other financial crimes and it is time to put Malaysia’s reputation neat, straight and clean.
“This is very vital for Malaysia. Seeing experienced, seasoned and capable people like Datuk Seri Hishamuddin Hussein, Khairy Jamaluddin, Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohd, Datuk Seri Azmin Ali, Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri, Alexander Nanta Linggi and Datuk Seri Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar being made ministers is gratifying.
“You can feel that Malaysia is now in very safe hands, as many had said it. I fully agree,” Minos said.
