KUALA LUMPUR: The people are placing a high hope that prime minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob and his team could lead the nation out of the pandemic, and achieve speedy recovery, said Tan Sri T.C Goh, President of the Federation of Chinese Associations Malaysia (Huazong).
“This is despite the fact that the newly-established Federal Cabinet is essentially an old one, with minor reshuffle to it,” he said.
He recognised that the new Cabinet consisting of a total number of 69 ministers and deputy ministers, which is only one member less than the previous 70 members, is a delicate ‘balancing act’ amidst the current political climate.
As for the number of Chinese representatives which remained the same as in the previous Cabinet i.e. one minister and four deputies, he said such a ‘political stagnancy’ is something which the Chinese community should ponder upon, whether for their current or future political development.
Goh who is also President of the Federation of Chinese Associations Sabah (FCAS) said this in a statement issued today, while commenting on the new line-up of the Federal Cabinet.
He noted that the prime minister has in his new line-up appointed 31 ministers and 38 deputy ministers, besides appointing four senior ministers. However, the deputy prime minister has yet to be appointed, probably due to political consideration.
Goh also congratulated MCA president Datuk Seri Wee Ka Siong for being appointed the Transport Minister, who is also the only Chinese representative appointed to a senior post. Goh recognized that this also essentially makes Wee the key spokesman for the Chinese community in the Cabinet, especially to reflect their aspirations and highlight issues affecting them.
On behalf of Huazong, Goh also congratulated the four Chinese policymakers who were appointed deputy ministers namely, Datuk Mah Hang Soon (Education), Datuk Seri Ti Lian Ker (Youth and Sports), Datuk Seri Wee Jeck Seng (Plantations and Commodities), and Datuk Lim Ban Hong (International Trade and Industry), besides wishing them a smooth and successful service to the nation and the people.
He also welcomed and supported the prime minister for reappointing non-politician and professional banker Tengku Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz as Finance Minister, after appointing him as a senator. He hopes the government could continue to appoint more professionals, based on their capability, to assist the government to better govern the country.
He also supported the appointment of Khairy Jamaluddin as the Health Minister, and hoped that he could continue to take charge of the ongoing national immunization programme. Goh hopes Khairy could strive to boost the existing healthcare system by upgrading its facilities, boosting its manpower, besides accelerating supply of vaccines to various states to ramp up vaccination of the people. This is so that Malaysia could achieve herd immunity ahead of schedule.
Goh who is also a member of the Sabah Economic Advisory Council (SEAC) also commended the prime minister for maintaining the Sabah and Sarawak Affairs portfolio, and appointed Datuk Maximus Johnity Ongkili and Datuk Hanifah Hajar Taib, as its minister and deputy minister. He was convinced that this would better facilitate the much-needed developments for the two east Malaysian states which are still lagging behind, as compared to Peninsular Malaysia.
He was nonetheless disappointed that there was no non-Muslim appointed to the Ministry of Finance despite it having two deputy ministers.
“If there’s a non-Muslim representative in the Ministry of Finance, it would better address taxation issues affecting the non Muslims,” he said.
Goh however recognized that, in general, the new Cabinet line-up is a multiracial and inclusive one.
He also fully supported the prime minister’s remark that “The government will ensure that the new Cabinet line-up is committed to realising the national agenda through inter-party cooperation to drive the nation’s economic recovery”, besides instructing all ministries to set a long-term and short-term plan, and to produce the intended results in the first 100 days.
Besides this, Goh also hopes the government could continue to improve the procedures of the National Recovery Plan (NRP); this include allocation of government funding, policies concerning economic package and welfare aids for the needy and underprivileged, and delegation of powers by National Security Council (NSC) to State Security Council of every states, besides enhancing the existing cooperation. This is to ensure a more efficient and effective handling of issues triggered by Covid-19 pandemic and/or ensuing lockdowns, and to pave the way for a speedy economic recovery.
Apart from this, he also hopes the new Cabinet could strive to facilitate greater inter-party cooperation, in order to better lead the people out of the pandemic, and to regain normalcy in their lives.-pr/BNN
