Losing Sight Of Priorities

Here we go again. Just when PM is making progress with naming his cabinet and getting the ball rolling, both sides are clamoring about who's not supposed to be in his cabinet and who should and why MECD was abolished? The agencies and bodies under the former MECD has been re-organized and absorbed into several ministries, including Rural Development and MITI. Imagine detractors trying to crucify PM if and when logical merger is done, say between MOA and Ministry of Plantation and Commodities, "Who will protect palm oil?!". The whole idea of streamlining is to enhance efficiency and minimize overlapping. While I may think that more could have been done, but that's PM's prerogative and the dynamics of power sharing in BN would dictate a higher importance than rational cabinet downsizing.

The pressure is not coming solely from the Opposition, but pro-government entities. Even MIC is threatening to pull out, albeit being slaughtered in the last GE (remember Kayveas threatening to pull out from the coalition also?). Securing seats in the cabinet does not equate to having the ability to help the Indian community. The president of MIC should resolve outstanding issues such as Maika Holdings failure to disburse dividends, allegations of funds mismanagement and reforming the election mechanism in the organization, not lobbying for cabinet positions.

Welcome back, Mahathirism - Malaysiakini

>> In the US, the democractic party is nothing similar to our coalition formula. Obama also made some follies when selecting 2 members who did not pay their taxes and bringing in old faces from the previous Clinton administration. Of course US democratic system is exemplary where cabinet appointments and some 7000 political appointments must be agreed by Congress.

The composition of the PR is nothing different than that of BN. If PR is saying they are more race-blind, then why is PR endorsing Hindraf (clearly a racist hate group), why did PAS say it's haram to vote for non-muslim candidates and then flip flop on that, DAP is clearly chinese dominated, PAS with Malays, etc. So if they're so full of it about race being immaterial, prove it by forming a one-party system and open election among the races.

And no, America is not the land of the free if you have names similar to suspected terrorists and you get locked up at the airport for having beards and wearing kupiah. Gitmo?

Quoted from Malaysiakini
New cabinet - 'Welcome back, Mahathirism'
Apr 11, 09 11:20am

‘By not giving Khairy any post, Najib is just inviting trouble. To rub salt into the wound, Mukhriz is deputy minister of Miti.’

On Najib names his new cabinet

Sivaraman: Same old, same old. By not giving Khairy any post, Najib is just inviting trouble. To rub salt into the wound, Mukhriz is deputy minister of Miti. Welcome back, Mahathirism.Malaysia Boleh: ‘Of the ministers, 16 are from Umno, MCA (4), MIC (1), Gerakan (1), PBB (1), Supp (1), PBS (1) and Upko (1).’ Well, can we see any changes here? It is safe to say ketuanan is still being practiced. Look at the ratio, it is just like my working place. Seventy-five percent bumis, 20% Chinese, followed by rest of us at 5%. It just so disheartening.Fifty years ago my father saw this and now I’m still seeing it and so will my children. Well, PKR, it’s time to change. Hear me and hear the people - ‘go for it’.

Rachel Loo: With the new cabinet line-up, I see Bernard Dompok has been retained as a minister. As such, perhaps our YB can now persuade our new PM, in line with his vision of ‘1Malaysia’, to declare Good Friday a public holiday for the Christians in West Malaysia just like in Sabah and Sarawak. Is Bernard Dompok only representing the Christians in Sabah and Sarawak or is he representing all Christians in Malaysia ?

Sang Kancil: Saudara Najib finally managed to get all his men into the system, one which will face a real challenge from the rakyat. If we analyse it properly, some of the senators and MPs who were selected to hold a minister’s or deputy minister's post are basically losers. Meaning to say, they are ‘rejects’. They were either rejected during the 12GE or during the Umno elections recently. Is this what we call democracy? Getting someone rejected by the rakyat into the cabinet is totally unwarranted. Perhaps the BN machinery is punishing the rakyat for not giving them absolute power during the 12GE. Anyway, we the rakyat, are not really worried or bothered about this too much. After all, this may be the last BN cabinet in Malaysian history.

Rahmanizan: Do you know Obama took more than 30 days to find the right people to form his cabinet? Everyone that was short-listed was checked and scrutinised to ensure that they are clean and did not come with any baggage that could put his administration in bad light. He looked for the best, the most capable, the most qualified and ones that were highly regarded to assume their respective posts.And now compare that to Najib's administration. Najib selected his cabinet in just six days and what do we have? Pure politicians! They were selected because they are heads of BN component parties or the leaders of each of the parties’ wing or Umno loyalists. The selections were made purely to appease the political parties.Now you see why America is named the Land of the Free and Home of the Brave whereas Malaysia is Bolehland.

Great Start with Cabinet - Now Some Tough Work

Now that the cabinet has been assembled, it's time to get some government work done. The main issues of interest to me and colleagues alike:

FINANCE! No surprise there with Dato' Najib still holding on to the most crucial portfolio in our trying times. Where is our second Fortune 500 to kick in more revenue for the country? We cannot be dependent on oil as the main revenue stream forever. What is our stand on continuing fuel subsidy? Should we scout around for great acquisition opportunities overseas, i.e. GM, GE? The new wave of GLC bosses would definitely determine whether Dato' Najib's ambition to put us back on track would materialize. How about reactivating vital economic projects, i.e. Bridge to Singapore? Shelf the second bridge project in Penang, is it really a necessity now? What of our bad investments via CTRM in the US and such? Hmmmm Tenaga made some big losses there last year, what's your plan sir?

Home: Dato' Hisham will face the enormous task of lowering crime figures, studying the ISA to be more "acceptable" to the general public, cracking down on the increase of foreign labors. As much as we want this to be a free country for press and media, hate groups such as Hindraf should be banned and locked up for good. Need to increase the number of cops and their salary. ISA is a required component of national security.

Defence: Dato' Zahid, please get our radars up and running, attempt to reach the impossible level of getting a 1:1 ratio of pilots to planes, define a defence doctrine, cease irrational procurements, increase the number of soldiers and their salary. Please cease the usage of military assets for NGO use. Perhaps getting our Navy in more engaging roles internationally like the recent escort mission in Gulf of Aden. RMC new campus and IB program still on?

Transport: What of the government's promise to add a perpendicular line to the current LRT track? The greatest challenge is overcoming bureaucratic hurdles of coordinating with multiples agencies and government bodies to get this going. I hope Labu airport is off the table for good. what of the national physical plan?

MITI: Mainly to finalize the FTA with the US, obviously to ensure that our interests are protected against giant congolomerates eating up mom & pop setups, regardless of what they say about how rewarding capitalism is. Malaysia Kitchen project should be continued and expanded. Need to boost our exports before it really hurts us dramatically, source for new emerging markets in South America and Middle East. What of APs and the national automotive policy? When are these being phased out?

MOSTI: Please don't send another space tourist, purchase exorbitant space suits and capsules. Continue to strengthen MDeC and Biotech Corp in facilitating home grown companies to capture a better slice in the market overseas. MOSTI has been busting their budgets for years. Need to be able to manage their finances better.

Sports: Please don't over-promise and under-deliver. For this one term, focus on a few projects, please do not use public funds to procure facilities overseas. If the football team makes it somewhere regionally or globally, it'll be a good enough term/KPI. Avoid being too ambitious. Study viability of getting more involved in increasingly popular sporting events among youths, i.e. paintball, futsal.

Foreign Affairs: The continuous battle to settle border disputes must continue full steam ahead. Study the possibility of retaking Pulau Batu Putih at all cost to boost political morale! Bridge to Singapore?

Rural Development: Since a Sabahan is leading this ministry, we should not hear any more complaints about not having water and electricity in schools and homes. Sabah is one of the biggest recipients of federal funds and now one of three vice presidents of UMNO is the minister of rural development. So, let's see some work done.

Agro: OK, now that Agro bank has been 'commercialized', why is it still difficult to extract loans for small & medium farmers? Easy for the big congolomerates to say, they're getting the juicy stuff. Should study Yunus' microcredit program in Bangladesh. The target for this ministry should be 'self-sufficiency' for food supply.

Energy, Green Tech & Water: Is Peter Chin up to it to assess the viability of alternative energy and fuel replacement initiative? What is the commercial viability of biofuel, wind farms, nuclear, geothermal and such for the country? Wasn't nuclear discussed at some point of time last year?

Plantation and Commodities: How is it that our island neighbor has the biggest asset base in palm oil but we've got all the land?

Above all, Dato' Najib has stressed on minimizing formalities. No more red carpets, trips to Disneyland, RM100k watches for anniversary, tonnes of billboards with minister's face next to PM and TPM, etc. Watch your budgets like a hawk. Study the auditor-general's latest report and fix the flaws pronto. These are robust KPIs to monitor. Kick out ministers resting on their laurels.

New Cabinet
Marina's take
Datuk Kadir Jasin's view

Kabinet Baru

Kita sekarang menanti pengumuman kabinet baru oleh Dato' Seri Najib, Perdana Menteri Malaysia ke-enam. Umum tertanya-tanya, adakah pembentukan kabinet baru oleh Dato' Najib akan mencerminkan hasrat beliau untuk mengubah persepsi dan tanggapan umum mengenai UMNO dan kerajaan Barisan Nasional?

Ramai tokoh-tokoh UMNO yang kalah dalam pemilihan UMNO baru-baru ini, antaranya menteri-menteri kanan seperti Dato' Seri Khaled Nordin, Dato' Seri Utama Rais, Dato' Shahrir, Dato' Seri Azalina dan 4 Menteri Besar. Dato' Seri Sharizat, walaupun kecundang di parlimen Lembah Pantai, telah menang dengan majoriti yang besar sebagai Ketua Wanita. Sama juga dengan parti-parti komponen yang mana kepimpinan mereka kecundang di kerusi Parlimen masing-masing dalam PRU-12.

Kerana dunia dilanda wabak ekonomi yang perit, Dato' Najib perlu menubuhkan pasukan ekonomi yang terbaik dan terhandal tanpa mengira jika ada jawatan di dalam UMNO dan mengaktifkan semula Majlis Tindakan Ekonomi dibawah nasihat pakar-pakar ekonomi, "industry captains" dan negarawan seperti TDM. Kerana darurat ekonomi yang sedang melanda kita, saya fikir Dato' Najib akan kekal sebagai Menteri Kewangan untuk menumpukan sepenuh perhatiannya dalam kedudukan khazanah negara.

Kabinet baru di bawah pentadbiran Dato' Najib mungkin akan mirip seperti yang berikut:

TS Muhyiddin: TPM & Menteri Dalam Negeri

DS Zahid Hamidi: Menteri Pertahanan

DS Hisham: Menteri Perdagangan Antarabangsa dan Industri (kedudukan yang penting untuk menilai dan mengukuhkan kedudukan ekspot negara ekoran ekonomi yang merudum di arena global, juga mengkaji semula FTA dengan Amerika Syarikat).

DS Shafie Afdal: Menteri Pertanian (dengan gabungan Kementerian Perusahaan Perladangan dan Komoditi), sesuai dengan fokus kerajaan membangunkan Sabah yang berasaskan pertanian dan Sarawak sebagai jelapang padi baru negara.

DSU Rais: dikekalkan Menteri Luar (fokus untuk mendapatkan semula Pulau Batu Putih, menyelesaikan isu Limbang dan lain-lain "border disputes"), walaupun kalah dalam pemilihan sebagai Naib Presiden UMNO, kearifan beliau dalam undang-undang dan kalibernya sebagai menteri kanan masih diperlukan Dato' Najib.

DS Khaled: Menyambung kerja Dato' Shahrir sebagai Menteri Perdagangan Dalam Negeri dan HEP, memberi pendedahan langsung kepada rintihan rakyat mengenai inflasi dan harga barang terutamanya isu harga dan subsidi petrol.

Tok Pa: Menteri Pelajaran (fokus untuk meneruskan PPSMI). Kementerian Pengajian Tinggi juga digabung semula dengan Kementerian Pelajaran supaya ada "continuity" apabila polisi-polisi kerajaan dilaksanakan di sekolah-sekolah.

JJ: Mungkin kembali sebagai Menteri Kewangan II.

Shaziman: Kekal di Kementerian Tenaga, Air dan Komunikasi, MOSTI digabungkan sekali untuk menyelaraskan pentadbiran ICT dan multimedia yang bersangkut paut dari segi infrastruktur.

Dato' Saifuddin: Kenaikan dari timbalan menteri ke menteri penuh kerana memenangi kerusi Majlis Tertinggi dan terkenal dengan penglibatan dalam NGO. Kementerian ini juga patut digabungkan dengan Kementerian Sumber Manusia untuk memantau isu pekerja asing. Isu ini berkaitan langsung dengan pembangunan usahawan dan latihan semula penganggur.

Dato' Sri Zin Mohamed: Kekal sebagai Menteri Kerja Raya (fokus dalam menyelesaikan masalah pembangunan di lereng bukit dan konsesi tol).

Dato' Sri Ong Tee Keat: Kekal sebagai Menteri Pengangkutan.

Dato' Sri Ng Yen Yen: Menteri Pelancongan.

KJ: Timbalan Menteri Belia dan Sukan (sesuai dengan penglibatan beliau dalam arena bolasepak negara)

Dato' Mukhriz: Timbalan Menteri Pelajaran (memberi pengalaman kpd beliau sebagai saf kepimpinan akan datang dan mengatur strategi bagi pendidikan satu aliran untuk masa hadapan, satu elemen penting "One Malaysia")

Tan Sri Nor Mohamed: Menteri di Jabatan Perdana Menteri utk portfolio EPU.

Menteri Kesihatan: Perlu seorang profesional dari bidang kesihatan, mungkin dari IJN.

Timbalan menteri yang akan menjadi menteri penuh: Idris Haron, Lajim Ukin, Latif Ahmad.

Menteri2 lain yang akan kekal: Ismail Sabri.

Pilihan ketara untuk wakil wanita dari UMNO ialah Dato' Seri Sharizat. Kerana beliau gagal memenangi parlimen Lembah Pantai, tetapi menang besar sebagai Ketua Wanita, Dato' Seri Najib akan melantik beliau sebagai senator dan Menteri Pembangunan Masyarakat dan Luar Bandar (gabungan 2 kementerian). Ketua Puteri Rosnah mungkin diberi Timbalan Menteri untuk menambahkan perwakilan wanita dalam kabinet.

Apa yang disampaikan hanyalah ramalan saya. Ini semua terpulang kepada saiz dan bentuk kabinet baru.

Rujukan:

Ahli2 Majlis Tertinggi UMNO 2009

Kabinet sekarang

Politics and economics under Najib - The Nut Graph