FMT:
Sivakumar axed over complaints, politics, says DAP source
A party source claims V Sivakumar was not on DAP’s shortlist for a ministerial post in the previous Cabinet to begin with.
The failure to remove ‘incompetent’ ministry officials has been cited as a factor in V Sivakumar’s removal as human resources minister.
PETALING JAYA: V Sivakumar was removed from Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s reshuffled Cabinet following complaints over his performance as human resources minister and as a result of party politics, according to a DAP source.
Speaking on condition of anonymity, the source said Sivakumar’s “mistake” was failing to get rid of “incompetent” ministry officials appointed by previous administrations, which affected his reputation.
There were also complaints from backbenchers about his performance, said the source, who declined to provide details about these complaints.
According to the source, Sivakumar was not even on DAP’s shortlist for a ministerial post to begin with and this did not help his case.
“His appointment (as human resources minister) came as a surprise to many in DAP because we were told his name was not on the party’s shortlist.
“So, dropping Sivakumar and the appointment of Steven Sim as a full minister is actually in line with DAP’s original shortlist.”
On Tuesday, Anwar announced the appointment of Sim, the DAP organising secretary, as the new human resources minister. Sim was previously a deputy finance minister.
When contacted, Sivakumar said he could not comment on his inclusion in Anwar’s first Cabinet line-up as he never saw DAP’s shortlist.
Unsurprising change
Political analysts James Chin and Oh Ei Sun said Sivakumar’s removal was unsurprising because of the controversy surrounding the recruitment of foreign workers.
They were referring to a probe by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).
The probe saw the arrest and subsequent release of three of Sivakumar’s aides. Sivakumar sacked five of his aides in the aftermath of the investigation.
He was not a suspect in the probe and at the time, Anwar dismissed the need for him to go on garden leave.
Chin, who is with the University of Tasmania, also said Sim’s appointment as human resources minister was expected.
“Sim deserved to be promoted as he’s always been a good performer and, in fact, at one time he was viewed as a future Penang chief minister,” he said.
Oh, from the Singapore Institute of International Affairs, said Sim’s appointment as a full minister had set the stage for the Bukit Mertajam MP to take over Penang in the future.
PETALING JAYA: V Sivakumar was removed from Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s reshuffled Cabinet following complaints over his performance as human resources minister and as a result of party politics, according to a DAP source.
Speaking on condition of anonymity, the source said Sivakumar’s “mistake” was failing to get rid of “incompetent” ministry officials appointed by previous administrations, which affected his reputation.
There were also complaints from backbenchers about his performance, said the source, who declined to provide details about these complaints.
According to the source, Sivakumar was not even on DAP’s shortlist for a ministerial post to begin with and this did not help his case.
“His appointment (as human resources minister) came as a surprise to many in DAP because we were told his name was not on the party’s shortlist.
“So, dropping Sivakumar and the appointment of Steven Sim as a full minister is actually in line with DAP’s original shortlist.”
On Tuesday, Anwar announced the appointment of Sim, the DAP organising secretary, as the new human resources minister. Sim was previously a deputy finance minister.
When contacted, Sivakumar said he could not comment on his inclusion in Anwar’s first Cabinet line-up as he never saw DAP’s shortlist.
Unsurprising change
Political analysts James Chin and Oh Ei Sun said Sivakumar’s removal was unsurprising because of the controversy surrounding the recruitment of foreign workers.
They were referring to a probe by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).
The probe saw the arrest and subsequent release of three of Sivakumar’s aides. Sivakumar sacked five of his aides in the aftermath of the investigation.
He was not a suspect in the probe and at the time, Anwar dismissed the need for him to go on garden leave.
Chin, who is with the University of Tasmania, also said Sim’s appointment as human resources minister was expected.
“Sim deserved to be promoted as he’s always been a good performer and, in fact, at one time he was viewed as a future Penang chief minister,” he said.
Oh, from the Singapore Institute of International Affairs, said Sim’s appointment as a full minister had set the stage for the Bukit Mertajam MP to take over Penang in the future.
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kt comments:
No matter how good Steven Sim may be, and I personally believe he is good though I suspect he is a bit of a publicity hound, it's CRUEL of this article (and the DAP source) to badmouth Sivakumar. As the English saying goes, "it's adding insult to injury" - Mafulat!!!
Take another DAP minister Hannah Yeoh who seems to be completely teflonised - she's seldom, if never ever, criticised despite her mistakes - eg. the mangled Bkt Jalil Stadium turf grass, or reluctance as minister to accept failure for eg. SEA Games, not setting targets for Hangchow Games. etc etc etc. Sivakumar should take over as Sports Minister and why not? Wakakaka.
dei Tangachee, apa lah lu?
But she has such a "personality" that even Mahathir like(s/d) her. Recall when Mahathir resigned as PM7 he confessed he was mulling having a cabinet ONLY of technocrats to help him run the country - the sole politician he mentioned publicly he would have included amongst the technocrats was Hannah Yeoh, mind you a DAP person!!! Wakakaka - yes man, that's how much she is/was liked.
Poor Sivakumar, why can't you be more like a 'manja babe', wakakaka
And quite frankly I don't trust the DAP leadership on the sad issue of Ramkarpal being dropped abruptly from the ministerial lineup. I find it hard to believe Ramkarpal himself voluntarily resigned so as not to invite accusations of nepotism just because his brother Gobind was appointed a minister. Smells of Kerbau.
I can't recall a single Sivakumar initiative , improvement or decision from his tenure as Human Resources Minister, which is really an important portfolio, with a lot of potential for good as well as mischief.
ReplyDeleteSivakumar was like a Black Hole...(wakakaka).
Hannah was , by contrast, was actively engaged in all areas of her portfolio, whatever you may think about her success or failure.