KUCHING: Sarawak may not have a deputy prime minister in the new Federal administration but there are many Sarawak MPs with different portfolios in it.
This was pointed out by political scientist Prof Dr Jayum Jawan, who is also Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) Bintulu Campus Faculty of Humanity, Management and Science dean.
He said there were four full ministers from Sarawak in the federal Cabinet under former Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin and also under the current Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob.
“This is enough voice to bring up issues and problems from Sarawak to the Cabinet.
“The success or failure to bring up issues and problems facing the people of Sarawak rests on their shoulders and no others.
“Ironically, they have been in the federal Cabinet and it would be good if they can show what they have so far accomplished for Sarawak,” he told New Sarawak Tribune when contacted on Saturday (Aug 28).
On the many calls for a deputy prime minister from Sarawak, Jayum said it was just wishful thinking as the state did not have the number to make the call.
“GPS’ support came with 18 parliament seats. Besides, the four ministerial positions given to GPS were more than sufficient to reward the state for its legislative support.
“It is partly acknowledged that a former federal minister was reported to have said that the type of ministry given to Sarawak was more important than the glamour of the seat of deputy prime minister.
“But this argument is weak as being a federal minister, one is a minister for Malaysia and not just for Sarawak or the parliamentary area that they are chosen from,” he said.
The new federal Cabinet line-up, Dr Jayum said, reflected the continuity of the previous government.
“There are old faces from the previous Perikatan Nasional (PN) government under Muhyiddin who are recalled with some former veterans including four from Umno and one from Bersatu,” he said.
The four veterans from Umno that he was referring to are Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid (Rural Development Minister); Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim (Federal Territories Minister); Tan Sri Annuar Musa (Communication and Multimedia Minister); and Tan Sri Noh Omar (Entrepreneurship Development and Cooperatives Minister), while the veteran from Bersatu is its deputy president Datuk Seri Ahmad Faizal Azumu (Youth and Sports Minister).
“Perhaps, it is good because Ismail cannot wait for his first 100 days for them to deliver.
“He needs to deliver now or else his leadership may be shaky as he, too, has a very slim majority of two or three seats in a 222 seat Parliament,” said Jayum.
