LETTER | Monitor performance of ministers, deputies to replace if needed

LETTER | While I’m extending my congratulations to the newly appointed ministers and deputy ministers after the cabinet reshuffle, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim should constantly monitor and evaluate their performance.

The premier also needs to listen to public feedback and decisively replace those appointed when necessary to keep them on their toes.

When they hold office, all ministers are expected to fulfil their duties and work for the greater good of the people.

Anwar’s creation of a second finance minister’s post of which former Employees Provident Fund (EPF) CEO Amir Hamzah Azizan has been appointed, is welcome.

The finance minister II post is consistent with the suggestion that I made via a statement on Oct 3, 2023, whereby I had called on the prime minister to appoint another finance minister to deal with economic issues.

Doing this would help the prime minister, who is the finance minister, concentrate on the tasks and leadership responsibilities as demanded by his position.

Hit and miss

In any case, in this latest cabinet reshuffle, certain ministries such as the Digital Communications Ministry and the Natural Resources, Environment and Climate Change Ministry have been divided into two.

This detracts from what Anwar said when he took office. The people are left disappointed as the additional ministries also contravene Pakatan Harapan’s promises to reduce a bloated cabinet.

It is the aspiration of the people that the latest cabinet reshuffle will shift away from past practices of political party considerations and truly achieve the goal of merit-based technocrats who could govern the country.

Previously, I suggested that several underperforming ministers be removed. However, in this reshuffle, certain ministers and deputy ministers who had not been up to par are still in office.

I sincerely hope that with the continued trust being placed in them, they will improve execution capabilities, enhance the formulation of ministry policies and efficient policy implementation.

If not, it doesn’t matter how much of their salaries are slashed, it all remains as a rhetorical sputter and will not contribute towards public demand for government effectiveness.

We hope that Anwar will be able to devote more time and energy towards managing national policies and leading the entire executive to ensure that every minister and their deputies strive diligently to steer national development in the right direction.

The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of Malaysiakini.