KUALA LUMPUR: The new Federal Cabinet line-up shows that prime minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin honoured his promise to deliver a clean-and-professional Cabinet, said Tan Sri T.C Goh, president of the Federation of Chinese Associations Malaysia (Huazong).
The exclusion of those politicians who are currently facing legal actions and the appointment of professionals to hold key portfolios, and the inclusion of multiracial elected representatives, including those from east Malaysia Sabah and Sarawak, also reflected an inclusive-and-dynamic political outlook, he added.
He said this in a quick response to the new Federal Cabinet line-up unveiled by the prime minister on Monday.
He was also impressed with Muhyiddin’s unconventional-yet-strategic move of skipping the appointment of the deputy prime minister, and instead appointing four senior ministers to assist him. He believed such a move may produce positive results for the Perikatan Nasional (PN) coalition and the country, as a whole.
“The appointment of prominent banker Tengku Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz as a senator to take up the position of finance minister is a commendable move which reflects the PN government’s aspiration and determination to better manage key government departments,” added Goh who himself is a successful corporate leader of a wide range of businesses, in Malaysia and other countries.
Nonetheless, he was disappointed that there was no non-Muslim appointed to the finance portfolio.
“If a non-Muslim is appointed to the finance portfolio, it would better assist the government in dealing with finance and tax related issues affecting the non-Muslim,” he explained.
Goh who is also the president of the Federation of Chinese Associations Sabah (FCAS) also commended the government’s effort to better close the gap between Peninsular Malaysia and east Malaysia, through the creation of the Sabah and Sarawak Affairs division in the Prime Minister’s Department, which is being headed by Datuk Seri Dr Maximus Ongkili and Datuk Hanifah Hajar Taib.
He also congratulated the five Chinese elected representatives who were appointed as the ministers and deputy ministers namely, MCA president Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong (Transport Minister), president of Progressive Democratic Party (PDP) Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing (deputy National Unity Minister), MCA deputy president Datuk Dr Mah Hang Soon (deputy Education Minister I), MCA vice president Datuk Lim Ban Hong (deputy International Trade and Industry Minister), and Datuk Dr Wee Jeck Seng, MCA MP for Tanjung Piai (deputy Plantation Industry and Commodities Minister I).
Goh also hoped that with the formation of the new Cabinet, the PN government could move full swing to improve the economy, especially to execute the economic stimulus package to mitigate the dreadful impact of the coronavirus epidemic (Covid-19).-pr/BNN
