BY AMYRA VARKISA & MARGARET RINGGIT
WHETHER or not people are political, they can’t help but pay attention directly or indirectly to the formation of the new cabinet under the newly appointed Malaysia’s 10th Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
After all, it will have a lot of bearing on the success or failure of the government and the country as a whole. This will impact the people socio-economically.
Some Sarawak leaders were contacted for their thoughts on this as the state coalition, the Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS), is a member of the Anwar-headed unity government.
By and large, state leaders expect a lot from the new government, and are hopeful that it would do much better than its predecessors in terms of developing both Sarawak and Sabah.
Also, the state is hoping that Sarawak MPs would be given some of the important cabinet posts.
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HENRY KANYAN VINCENT RAWING
Councillor & Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) Tamin branch Youth Chief.
I expect a strong cabinet made up of leaders who can deal with economics, politics and education as well as ethnic diversities. DSAI always highlighted new and fresh ideas. Hence, I hope for a cabinet that can fulfil all that he envisioned all these years. As for the size of the Cabinet, I prefer a small one to be more focused on the most important things. DSAI has vast experience and is a brilliant leader. I think he will have a good Cabinet.
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DATUK ROSEY YUNUS
Deputy Minister for Women, Childhood and Community Development
We hope for more Sarawakians in the new Cabinet, including a Deputy Prime Minister’s post. This would ensure that the state would not lag in terms of development. The appointments of ministers must also take into consideration the individual expertise of the MPs.
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BOBBY WILLIAM
Parti Bansa Dayak Sarawak (PBDS) president
We hope he would fulfil Pakatan Harapan’s manifesto. And a deputy prime minister from Borneo should be appointed. We hope his cabinet ministers would be multi-religious multi-ethnic, etc. Even the young Mordi Bimol of the Democratic Action Party (DAP) can be a DPM. Why not? What about Doris Brodie or Richard Riot? Doris created history by becoming the first Iban woman MP. She was a senator before; DPM material with her vast experience in politics. Also, we have Dr Richard Rapu of Betong, and Lubok Antu MP Roy Angau Gingkoi.
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UGIK JALIT
Teresang Dayak Club founder
I want good governance and fair development for Sarawak. I also want good leadership regardless of race or religion apart from fighting corruption at all levels to ensure economic stability.
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ZAITON ABDUL KADER
Councillor and Sibu Municipal Council (SMC) Social and Community Development Standing Committee chairperson
I have no expectations concerning the federal Cabinet. The formation is the prerogative of the PM, whoever he is and regardless of his party too. All I want are for ministers to work hard for the country and not for themselves — all for building a better Malaysia. Give all the appointees a chance to do their work. The ideal cabinet size is also up to the PM to decide. Let’s not pressure or limit him too much.
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DATUK DR LAU PANG HENG
Chairman of Sarawak Patriot Association
A federal minister must be competent, qualified, efficient, professional, and have the specific skills for the respective ministries. Just don’t appoint a lawyer to be a Health Minister, something like that. It’s common sense. Ministers also need to have been good MPs in the past and must act with the people’s needs in mind. They must not have even a whiff of corruption or allegation of corruption around them, or abuse of power. The best Cabinet size is between 20 and 25 members. A lean and mean Cabinet is good as less is more. Politicking can be minimised among the ministries. The Cabinet size including the deputies should be fewer than 50 members.
