New Cabinet Surprises - Zaid is back

When Zaid Ibrahim's voices his differing opinions about the judicial systems weaknesses and his discontent with certain ministers and the administration of certain policies, it would be a foregone conclusion that he will not be nominated to stand for the 2008 election.

True enough, his name was left out in the 2008 BN's of candidates for Kelantan and he did not get to contest his parliamentary seat of Kota Baru.

We all thought he would retire and perish.

But luck was with him; or some might want to say that God was with him. The BN fared badly in the 2008 election which probably wakes up our sleepy PM. And Zaid was one of the beneficiary. He is made a full minister by Pak Lah and given the important role of de facto Law Minister, with the task of reforming the judiciary.

With Zaid's appointment, Malaysians have now a hope to realize a truthful and effective reformation of the judicial system.

Lim Kit Siang welcomes the 'surprise appointment' of Zaid Ibrahim as the de facto Law Minister responsible for judicial reforms.

"This will be most significant as it reflects a belated commitment to institute far-reaching judicial reforms to restore confidence in the independence, integrity and quality of the judiciary," he said in a statement.

NST reported that: "The appointment of Zaid, who will be the de facto Justice Minister in charge of judiciary reforms, was all the more surprising because of his well-established stance as a vociferous Government critic, especially on issues concerning the judiciary and human rights." (Source: Big surprises as UMNO stalwarts dropped…and return )

More to my surprise is the appointment of Amirsham Aziz, the former Maybank Group President and CEO who is made a Minister in the Prime Minister's Department in charge of Economic Planning Unit. Amirsham recently announced his retirement from the country’s largest banking group effective June this year, will replace Datuk Seri Effendi Nawawi.

Another welcoming appointment is the return of Shahrir Abdul Samad, who was dropped as chairman of the coalition backbenchers' club for voting against the government, will now helms the Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry - a very important post as he will be looking into consumer prices.

Another surprise is the departure of Rafidah Aziz, the incumbent chief of Umno's influential women's wing who is replaced by outgoing agriculture minister Muhyiddin Yasin.

For the first time in Cabinet history, Both Wanita UNMO Chief and Deputy Chief are not made ministers. Rafidah won her parliamentary seat of Kuala Kangsar but her deputy Datuk Shahrizat Jalil lost to PKR and Anwar's daughter Nurul Izzah Anwar in the general election.

Also axed by Pak Lah are Jamaluddin Jarjis, Azmi Khalid, Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor and Radzi Sheikh Ahmad.

In NST's view, "It would be hard to ignore the dropping of Perlis Umno stalwarts like Radzi and Azmi, who was embroiled in a crisis that led to ouster of Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim as Perlis Mentri Besar last week. For Radzi, it is the more surprising because he holds a very senior post in UMNO, the secretary-general."

There will also be no more Parliamentary Secretaries and Ministers or their deputies will now have to attend debates and to answer questions raised by parliamentarians.

Of course, the most anticipated appointment of Umno Youth deputy chief Khairy Jamaluddin as a minister was diffused when he was not named in the cabinet line up announced by his father-in-law.

In an immediate reaction this evening, Khairy said he was not disappointed for being left out from the new cabinet line-up.

"I do not have any aspirations to become a minister as long as Abdullah is prime minister," he told reporters.

There is one Ministry change that created the greatest happiness amongst the civil servants in JKR. MIC lost control over the Works Ministry and MIC's secretary-general Dr S Subramaniam has been appointed Human Resources Minister.

The Works Ministry will now be owned by UMNO and former Deputy Minister of Works Datuk Mohd Zin Mohamed is now promoted to be its Minister.

The only observable black stain in the new cabinet is the appointment of Tan Sri Muhammad Muhammad Taib as the Rural and Regional Development Minister.

According to Dr Jacob George, president, Consumer Association Subang and Shah Alam, "Bringing back faces like Muhammad Mohammad Taib is not reflective about the move to bring about change, especially when he is brought in by the back door. This is frustrating the will of people who made a decision through the ballot. At this moment in time there is no excitement for us. It looks like a makeshift cabinet, which could be quite temporary."

According to Lim Kit Siang, "this signified a return to the old politics of patronage, "completely at variance with Abdullah's pledge 42 months ago to lead a clean, incorruptible and trustworthy government." (Source: Kit Siang: New cabinet sends mixed signals)

Abdul Hadi Awang, PAS president was not impressed with the new cabinet line-up and in his view, Pak Lah's new cabinet was a move to save his position as PM and Umno president, and not to build a new Malaysia. The names announced are from those who are loyal to Abdullah, while those said to be close to deputy premier Najib Abdul Razak have been axed. To Hadi Awang the appointment of several senators as cabinet members, especially from Umno, proves that Umno MPs who were successful in the general election are not fit to be in the cabinet. (Source: Cabinet 2008: Reform or no reform?)

However, PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim today warned that the new cabinet line-up will spark more turmoil in Umno. “Umno’s leadership is in turmoil, (so) expect more turmoil after this announcement of the new cabinet,” he said.

“The other coalition partners are also in serious trouble. They cannot claim to have the support of their own communities and constituents any more.” (Source: Anwar predicts more turmoil in Umno)

My own observation is, Pak Lah had named one of his best cabinet composition to-date in so far as he had been PM, with the exception for the one blemish which is the inclusion of Mike Tyson who had a blemish record.