FMT:
Not enough ‘quality’ PKR MPs to replace Rafizi, Nik Nazmi as ministers, says analyst
2 hours ago
'Ainin Wan Salleh
Chin Yee Mun says a Cabinet reshuffle will enable Anwar Ibrahim to appoint more junior MPs to hold ‘less heavy’ portfolios and let the ‘seniors’ take over bigger roles
2 hours ago
'Ainin Wan Salleh
Chin Yee Mun says a Cabinet reshuffle will enable Anwar Ibrahim to appoint more junior MPs to hold ‘less heavy’ portfolios and let the ‘seniors’ take over bigger roles
An analyst says Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim faces a daunting task in choosing replacements for the ministerial posts which will be left vacant by Pandan MP Rafizi Ramli and Setiawangsa MP Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad. (Bernama pic)
PETALING JAYA: PKR does not have enough capable MPs to fill the ministerial posts left vacant by Pandan MP Rafizi Ramli and Setiawangsa MP Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad, according to an analyst.
Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman’s Chin Yee Mun said that with a long list of PKR MPs in hand, it would not be too difficult a task for Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim to find replacements for Rafizi, who holds the economy portfolio, and Nik Nazmi, the natural resources and environmental sustainability portfolio.
“He may have the quantity but not sufficient people with the quality to become ministers, particularly to replace Rafizi, who holds the economy portfolio. Anwar will have a tough time finding suitable replacements for both of them.
“The only way out is to reshuffle the Cabinet and this may enable him to appoint the more junior MPs from his party to hold ‘less heavy’ ministry portfolios and let the more senior ones take over bigger portfolios,” he told FMT.
Yesterday, Nik Nazmi said he was resigning from his ministerial post after failing to defend his PKR vice-presidency at the party’s central leadership polls held last week. He was a running mate of Rafizi, who lost the PKR deputy president’s post to Nurul Izzah Anwar.
Asked about the daunting task ahead for Anwar, Chin said that many in PKR were inexperienced at helming ministries.
“Becoming a minister is not about shouting slogans or leading street demonstrations or posting messages on social media. It is about handling urgent and important matters of the nation.
“The minister will also have to manage his or her ministry and deal with government bureaucracy. In general, most PKR MPs do not have such experience,” he said.
He also said it was too late in the day to train the PKR MPs for ministership since the government had only about two-and-a-half years left in Putrajaya. “There is no time to learn, they must deliver.”
Between a rock and a hard place
Chin said Anwar, who is the PKR president, could consider appointing his deputy, Nurul Izzah, or even his wife, Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, to the Cabinet.
“But it would be unwise to do so. He will be accused of nepotism, an accusation that has emerged after the party elections (after Nurul Izzah won the No 2 post). He can’t afford it.
“And if he were to appoint someone from outside his party, he would have to answer to his supporters from within his party,” he said.
The only thing Anwar could do now was to reduce the impact of his next step by opting for a Cabinet shakeup.
“This will at least satisfy other political parties within his unity government,” Chin said.
Ahmad Fauzi Abdul Hamid of Universiti Sains Malaysia said Anwar must tread carefully and avoid any perception of favouring Nurul Izzah in this matter, especially in the wake of her bitter contest against Rafizi for the deputy presidency.
‘Wong Chen and Amirudin Shari as safe bets
Fauzi suggested Subang MP Wong Chen and Selangor menteri besar Amirudin Shari as suitable candidates to take over the ministerial portfolios held by Rafizi and Nik Nazmi.
He said Wong Chen stood out for his articulate voice in the Dewan Rakyat and consistent, well-reasoned press statements, which reflected his strength in policy and communication.
“Although Wong Chen is identifiably from Rafizi’s camp in PKR, Anwar cannot afford to alienate Rafizi’s faction, lest the rift between the two camps becomes irreconcilable, threatening PKR’s position as a leading party within Pakatan Harapan, despite having fewer MPs than DAP.
“Amirudin, who hails from Nurul Izzah’s camp, has managed Selangor fairly well despite his relatively young age of 45. (But) a replacement then needs to be found to fill the Selangor menteri besar’s post,” he said.
Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman’s Chin Yee Mun said that with a long list of PKR MPs in hand, it would not be too difficult a task for Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim to find replacements for Rafizi, who holds the economy portfolio, and Nik Nazmi, the natural resources and environmental sustainability portfolio.
“He may have the quantity but not sufficient people with the quality to become ministers, particularly to replace Rafizi, who holds the economy portfolio. Anwar will have a tough time finding suitable replacements for both of them.
“The only way out is to reshuffle the Cabinet and this may enable him to appoint the more junior MPs from his party to hold ‘less heavy’ ministry portfolios and let the more senior ones take over bigger portfolios,” he told FMT.
Yesterday, Nik Nazmi said he was resigning from his ministerial post after failing to defend his PKR vice-presidency at the party’s central leadership polls held last week. He was a running mate of Rafizi, who lost the PKR deputy president’s post to Nurul Izzah Anwar.
Asked about the daunting task ahead for Anwar, Chin said that many in PKR were inexperienced at helming ministries.
“Becoming a minister is not about shouting slogans or leading street demonstrations or posting messages on social media. It is about handling urgent and important matters of the nation.
“The minister will also have to manage his or her ministry and deal with government bureaucracy. In general, most PKR MPs do not have such experience,” he said.
He also said it was too late in the day to train the PKR MPs for ministership since the government had only about two-and-a-half years left in Putrajaya. “There is no time to learn, they must deliver.”
Between a rock and a hard place
Chin said Anwar, who is the PKR president, could consider appointing his deputy, Nurul Izzah, or even his wife, Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, to the Cabinet.
“But it would be unwise to do so. He will be accused of nepotism, an accusation that has emerged after the party elections (after Nurul Izzah won the No 2 post). He can’t afford it.
“And if he were to appoint someone from outside his party, he would have to answer to his supporters from within his party,” he said.
The only thing Anwar could do now was to reduce the impact of his next step by opting for a Cabinet shakeup.
“This will at least satisfy other political parties within his unity government,” Chin said.
Ahmad Fauzi Abdul Hamid of Universiti Sains Malaysia said Anwar must tread carefully and avoid any perception of favouring Nurul Izzah in this matter, especially in the wake of her bitter contest against Rafizi for the deputy presidency.
‘Wong Chen and Amirudin Shari as safe bets
Fauzi suggested Subang MP Wong Chen and Selangor menteri besar Amirudin Shari as suitable candidates to take over the ministerial portfolios held by Rafizi and Nik Nazmi.
He said Wong Chen stood out for his articulate voice in the Dewan Rakyat and consistent, well-reasoned press statements, which reflected his strength in policy and communication.
“Although Wong Chen is identifiably from Rafizi’s camp in PKR, Anwar cannot afford to alienate Rafizi’s faction, lest the rift between the two camps becomes irreconcilable, threatening PKR’s position as a leading party within Pakatan Harapan, despite having fewer MPs than DAP.
“Amirudin, who hails from Nurul Izzah’s camp, has managed Selangor fairly well despite his relatively young age of 45. (But) a replacement then needs to be found to fill the Selangor menteri besar’s post,” he said.
New senatorships a ‘very, very bad’ idea
Asked if Anwar should consider appointing senators to take over from Rafizi and Nik Nazmi. Fauzi said that it would be an ill-conceived plan.
“It would be bad. We already have Saifuddin Nasution Ismail as a senator. It would be preferable to choose from the people’s choice first, and thus, even Nurul Izzah shouldn’t be hurriedly made a senator when there are other alternatives among PKR’s MPs,” he said.
University of Tasmania’s James Chin was on the same page, saying that it would be a “desperate” move on Anwar’s part that would send a “very, very bad signal”.
“The signal he would be sending is that he cannot find enough representatives from within PKR to take up the positions,” he said.
Chin said the “senatorship route” was meant for those who either did not wish to be frontline politicians or were unable to contest in elections for some reason.
I sages some DAP MPs join PKR and be made minister ha3
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