SHAH ALAM, 25 June: The decision for the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Razak, to restructure the cabinet, by appointing MCA and GERAKAN leaders, makes it the largest cabinet in the nation’s history.
The Member of Parliament for Shah Alam, Khalid Abdul Samad, said that the decision also proves that the move is to gain support from non-Malays, so that they return to Barisan Nasional (BN) after the clear rejection at the last 13th General Election (GE13).
He said that Najib also contradicts with what was highlighted by the ‘Melayu Ultra’ (Ultra Malays) group championed by the non-governmental organisations (NGOs) defended by Umno.
“The decision seems to indirectly dampen the image of ‘Melayu Ultra’, among them the Malay supremacy group PERKASA and the Malaysian Muslim Association (ISMA), by gaining support from non-Malays, although these NGOs have made significant contribution to Umno.
“At the same time, Najib indirectly acknowledged the fact that the country’s history has a social agreement by recognising that non-Malays have the same rights in terms of votes and the formation of government,” he said when contacted by Selangor Kini today.
He said this when asked to comment on the issue of the appointment of the MCA Chairman, Datuk Seri Dr Liow Tiong Lai, who was appointed into cabinet as the Transport Minister, while Datuk Wee Ka Siong was appointed as a Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department.
Meanwhile, the Chairman of GERAKAN, Datuk Mah Siew Keong, was also appointed as a Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, Lee Chi Leong (Deputy Minister of International Trade), Chua Tee Yong (Deputy Finance Minister) and Datin Paduka Chew Mei Fun returns to hold her old position as the Deputy Minister of Women’s Development, Family and Community.
At the same time, Khalid said that Najib’s decision to reshuffle the cabinet will not work to gain support from non-Malays because MCA and GERAKAN are no longer relevant, and in fact, BN still fails to find a formula to gain support from non-Malays.
“The decision carried out by Najib also proves that all conversations regarding the consolidation of Malays and Umno-PAS is rhetorical because it can no longer be used to form Malaysia as it cannot just involve a single race.
“In fact, the Hudud agenda propagated by Umno to join PAS is rhetoric and only intends to provoke a fight between Pakatan Rakyat component parties.
“BN is also seen as failing to understand the people’s need of wanting transparent, fair, accountable and corruption-free leaders. If this feature is not available, the people will not return to BN, despite placing MCA and GERAKAN in the cabinet,” he said.
NS
