‘A new method (will) be introduced to centralise efforts to conduct work and avoid any misgivings on possible wastage, corruption and abuse of power.’
– Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, Prime Minister of Malaysia.
NOW that the federal Cabinet line-up has been announced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, it is time for the ministers to start cracking on their plans and show Malaysians what they can do for the country.
Congratulations to all those who have been appointed to the federal Cabinet. Sarawak has had its wishes fulfilled — it has a deputy prime minister and four minister’s posts in the Cabinet.
Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) senior vice-president and Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) chief whip Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof was given the Plantation Industries and Commodities portfolio.
Datuk Sei Alexander Nanta, also from PBB and GPS, is the new Works Minister while Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri, from PBB and GPS, is the Women, Family and Community Development Minister.
Meanwhile, Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing, president of Progressive Democratic Party (PDP), a member of the GPS coalition, is Tourism Minister while Datuk Aaron Ago Dagang, from Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS), another member of GPS, is National Unity Minister.
Those on the news desk at New Sarawak Tribune and other Malaysian newspapers finished work late on Friday night because they had to wait for Anwar’s announcement on the federal Cabinet which was delayed to 8.15 pm local time, and related comments and stories on the new Cabinet.
Up to now, the deputy ministers have not been announced yet. But they will definitely be known soon.
Anyway, at least for now, Malaysians and the whole world now know who’s heading the ministries in the new unity government led by Anwar.
For those on the news desks in various newspapers, including yours truly at New Sarawak Tribune, it is time for us to do our homework again. We have to remember the names of the ministers and the ministries they lead. This is expected of us and our job to do so.
Deputy Prime Minister Fadillah has long been known as Works Minister. To Sarawakians, he is synonymous with the Pan Borneo Highway and has won much praise for doing a good job with it.
Now, I have to get used to him as Deputy Prime Minister and the new Minister of Plantation Industries and Commodities.
The same goes for Alexander. He used to be the Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister. Now he is the Works Minister.
Alexander hails from Kapit which is now well connected to Sibu, Song and Kanowit. A long time ago, when I was a schoolgirl, Kapit was only accessible by express boats or motor launches. Perhaps, more roads will be built in rural areas of Sarawak now that he is the Works Minister. Perhaps, he will connect Kapit by road to other areas in upper Rajang.
There were a few surprises for me when the new federal Cabinet was revealed. One of them was the appointment of Tiong King Sing as Tourism Minister. But I think Anwar is aware of what Tiong can do. Yes, I am sure Tiong will do a good job as Tourism Minister because he speaks so many languages including Mandarin, Bahasa Malaysia, English, Iban and of course, his mother tongue, Foochow.
With him helming the Tourism Ministry, perhaps we will see more tourists from Mandarin speaking countries like China and Taiwan.
Meanwhile, I look forward to the changes Nancy will bring to Malaysia now that she is Minister of Women, Family and Community Development. As Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture under the previous government, she has worked hard and done a marvellous job in promoting different parts of the country to Malaysians and foreigners.
Personally, I don’t know much about Aaron, the new Minister of National Unity. With Anwar emphasising so much on unity in his federal Cabinet and the country, Aaron will certainly have a lot of programmes to organise and implement. I look forward to getting to know him better through his work.
Frankly speaking, most of the names in Anwar’s new Cabinet are new to me. This is because I am not a political writer. Anway, I look forward to getting to know each of them and their work better.
I am pleasantly surprised and pleased by the inclusion of two well-known strong women politicians, namely, Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said as Minister of Law and Institutional Reforms (PM’s Department) and Hannah Yeoh Tseow Suan as Minister of Youth and Sports, in the new federal Cabinet.
Anwar must have thought hard to come up with the impressive line-up of his Cabinet ministers. He probably knows the weaknesses and strengths of each individual and have decided to capitalise on their strong points.
Anwar has said his Cabinet members must prioritise good governance when carrying out their duties and that the main focus of his Cabinet was to drive the economy.
With the prime minister himself helming the finance ministry, like other Malaysians, I look forward to a better, united Malaysia with a strong economy. May God bless Malaysia.
