Saturday, March 15, 2008
Civil society's wish for new cabinet
Malaysiakini
Azreen Madzlan and Ki Mae Heussner | Mar 15, 08 4:17pm
What is the civil society’s wish for the new cabinet? Malaysiakini pitches a few questions to eight special interests groups to get their feedbacks on who, what and how the new cabinet should be.
Muhammad Sha'ani Abdullah: CEO Federation of Malaysian Consumers Associations (Fomca)
Prime Minister (Abdullah Ahmad Badawi) should appoint new faces with corporate managerial experience who can bring in change to the work culture of the government machinery. He must also do away with ethnicity-based arrangement.
On downsizing cabinet: The current cabinet is too big - causes coordination problem. More consolidation is necessary.
On the Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs portfolio: We support the PM to maintain minister (Mohd Shafie Afdal). He has pro-actively carried out work with the industry and NGOs. We’re satisfied with the current minister.
On Khairy Jamaluddin being a minister: It will be seen as nepotism. There are equally capable people in and outside the party to carry out these functions. He’s related to PM, so there will be a conflict of interests. This will not look good for the government.
Yap Swee Seng: Executive Director, Suara Rakyat Malaysia (Suaram)
In general, we want people with integrity and credibility, people with clean records, without corruption and without abuse of power.
Also, for those who are already staying for too long, they should not be included in the new cabinet. For instance - Rafidah Aziz, she has not been accountable to the people.
On downsizing cabinet: We have a very bloated cabinet during Pak Lah’s time. Increasing the number doesn’t help increase productivity. Suaram welcomes the downsizing.
On Khairy Jamaluddin being a minister: I think based on his record and insensitivity to the different communities in the country and also his involvement in the ECM Libra issue, he’s not a suitable candidate. There are so many doubts and questions surrounding him.
On the human rights portfolio: If the government is sincere in promoting human rights, they should have a portfolio in human rights and the portfolio would be to help improve human rights issues.
Ibrahim Suffian: Director, Merdeka Centre for Opinion Research
We want the new cabinet to carry out what the old cabinet has not successfully done. Clean, new faces who are going to reform the cabinet. A cabinet that will listen to the people and be more approachable.
On downsizing cabinet: It’s really good, we support it. Some portfolios can be merged too.
On Khairy Jamaluddin being a minister: It’s the priority of the prime minister and the ruling party. But as a member of parliament, he has the right to be elected as minister.
V Gayathry: Executive Director, Centre for Independent Journalism
We expect a transparent government, without the old leaders. A progressive cabinet who will not use the old techniques such as the ISA, scare tactics, using ghosts of the past such as the May 13 incident.
We support the putting out of Zainuddin Maidin. The prime minister should get someone to be in tune with technology to keep up with the people’s behaviour and expectations.
The new cabinet should be able to take on the sentiment and the changing demands of the people. More dialogues should be conducted with different communities.
On downsizing cabinet: A lean cabinet is a good sign, the prime minister should cut down on people, get people who will focus on their jobs.
Tan Sri Ramon Navaratnam: President, Transparency International Malaysia
I would like to see ministers with competence and integrity - a proven track record of the highest integrity. Former ministers who have proven their integrity should be retained and new faces who also pass tests of transparency should be brought in.
The cabinet should reflect a mix of experience and youthfulness as the government must think of long-term and establish a good succession plan.
On Khairy Jamaluddin being a minister: If Khairy fulfills the criteria, why not? We should increasingly focus our attention on merit, competence and transparency. If people fulfill the criteria - regardless of who they are - they should be fairly treated.
Dr Chandra Muzaffar, President, International Movement for a Just World (JUST)
Right now, PM must include these considerations - multi-ethnic representation especially from Sabah and Sarawak and the gender factor; more women should be in the cabinet.
Cabinet members should be at least less tainted. Competence is also a major factor - need ministers who can work, plan and execute their plans.
On downsizing cabinet: There’s a need to streamline the cabinet to ensure that there’s no duplication and to improve effectiveness. The Works Ministry, for example, was too wide in scope.
It’s also important for the PM to get someone to assist him in his office and help with the implementation of the various plans.
The PM should also not hold two portfolios. In the last cabinet, in addition to his duties as PM, he was responsible for the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Internal Security. These are two heavy cabinet positions. PM should focus on only his PM duties.
On Khairy being a minister: It’s slightly speculative at this point. If Abdullah wants to restore credibility and confidence to his cabinet and if he wants to keep Umno united and wants to make sure everyone is together and cohesive, I don’t think it would be a good idea to appoint Khairy to the cabinet at this point.
Dr Loh Chi Leong: Executive Director, Malaysian Nature Society
I support a mix of old and new blood in the cabinet.
I think it’s more important that the various ministries continue to work more closely with the public and NGO community. - to ensure more transparency
I applauded the formation of the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment but a tendency toward "comparmentalisation" has stymied progress. Although good policies have been formulated, cross-sectoral collaboration has not been ideal.
The ministries must improve cooperation between federal and state departments. For example, green lung policies had been approved at the federal level but not enforced at the state level.
Honey Tan: Executive Director, All Women’s Action Society (Awam)
The prime minister should appoint or retain ministers who uphold good governance. This means women and men who believe in and will promise to practice a more participatory form of government, uphold the rule of law, be transparent and responsive, make decisions which are more based on consensus, champion a more equitable distribution of wealth and resources, be efficient and accountable to the rakyat – not the parties to which they belong.
On downsizing cabinet: The women's ministry should remain and stand alone, and not be consolidated with any other ministries or to fall under the Prime Minister's Department as it did in the past. However, having a Women's Ministry does not absolve the government from ensuring that gender main streaming is effectively implemented throughout the other ministries and agencies.
On new women's minister: The new women's minister must get across to everyone that gender equality matters. New minister must also push for CEDAW to be passed into law in Malaysia. It was ratified in 1995, but still not made into law in a holistic manner.
BN government could be brave and innovative. Choose people who may not be from BN component parties. We have capable women from the opposition parties. PM could even appoint someone from the women's movement who have expertise in this area.
On Khairy Jamaluddin being a minister: Any MP who upholds the principle of good governance as laid out above would be an asset to the cabinet and to the country.
Azreen Madzlan and Ki Mae Heussner | Mar 15, 08 4:17pm
What is the civil society’s wish for the new cabinet? Malaysiakini pitches a few questions to eight special interests groups to get their feedbacks on who, what and how the new cabinet should be.
Muhammad Sha'ani Abdullah: CEO Federation of Malaysian Consumers Associations (Fomca)
Prime Minister (Abdullah Ahmad Badawi) should appoint new faces with corporate managerial experience who can bring in change to the work culture of the government machinery. He must also do away with ethnicity-based arrangement.
On downsizing cabinet: The current cabinet is too big - causes coordination problem. More consolidation is necessary.
On the Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs portfolio: We support the PM to maintain minister (Mohd Shafie Afdal). He has pro-actively carried out work with the industry and NGOs. We’re satisfied with the current minister.
On Khairy Jamaluddin being a minister: It will be seen as nepotism. There are equally capable people in and outside the party to carry out these functions. He’s related to PM, so there will be a conflict of interests. This will not look good for the government.
Yap Swee Seng: Executive Director, Suara Rakyat Malaysia (Suaram)
In general, we want people with integrity and credibility, people with clean records, without corruption and without abuse of power.
Also, for those who are already staying for too long, they should not be included in the new cabinet. For instance - Rafidah Aziz, she has not been accountable to the people.
On downsizing cabinet: We have a very bloated cabinet during Pak Lah’s time. Increasing the number doesn’t help increase productivity. Suaram welcomes the downsizing.
On Khairy Jamaluddin being a minister: I think based on his record and insensitivity to the different communities in the country and also his involvement in the ECM Libra issue, he’s not a suitable candidate. There are so many doubts and questions surrounding him.
On the human rights portfolio: If the government is sincere in promoting human rights, they should have a portfolio in human rights and the portfolio would be to help improve human rights issues.
Ibrahim Suffian: Director, Merdeka Centre for Opinion Research
We want the new cabinet to carry out what the old cabinet has not successfully done. Clean, new faces who are going to reform the cabinet. A cabinet that will listen to the people and be more approachable.
On downsizing cabinet: It’s really good, we support it. Some portfolios can be merged too.
On Khairy Jamaluddin being a minister: It’s the priority of the prime minister and the ruling party. But as a member of parliament, he has the right to be elected as minister.
V Gayathry: Executive Director, Centre for Independent Journalism
We expect a transparent government, without the old leaders. A progressive cabinet who will not use the old techniques such as the ISA, scare tactics, using ghosts of the past such as the May 13 incident.
We support the putting out of Zainuddin Maidin. The prime minister should get someone to be in tune with technology to keep up with the people’s behaviour and expectations.
The new cabinet should be able to take on the sentiment and the changing demands of the people. More dialogues should be conducted with different communities.
On downsizing cabinet: A lean cabinet is a good sign, the prime minister should cut down on people, get people who will focus on their jobs.
Tan Sri Ramon Navaratnam: President, Transparency International Malaysia
I would like to see ministers with competence and integrity - a proven track record of the highest integrity. Former ministers who have proven their integrity should be retained and new faces who also pass tests of transparency should be brought in.
The cabinet should reflect a mix of experience and youthfulness as the government must think of long-term and establish a good succession plan.
On Khairy Jamaluddin being a minister: If Khairy fulfills the criteria, why not? We should increasingly focus our attention on merit, competence and transparency. If people fulfill the criteria - regardless of who they are - they should be fairly treated.
Dr Chandra Muzaffar, President, International Movement for a Just World (JUST)
Right now, PM must include these considerations - multi-ethnic representation especially from Sabah and Sarawak and the gender factor; more women should be in the cabinet.
Cabinet members should be at least less tainted. Competence is also a major factor - need ministers who can work, plan and execute their plans.
On downsizing cabinet: There’s a need to streamline the cabinet to ensure that there’s no duplication and to improve effectiveness. The Works Ministry, for example, was too wide in scope.
It’s also important for the PM to get someone to assist him in his office and help with the implementation of the various plans.
The PM should also not hold two portfolios. In the last cabinet, in addition to his duties as PM, he was responsible for the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Internal Security. These are two heavy cabinet positions. PM should focus on only his PM duties.
On Khairy being a minister: It’s slightly speculative at this point. If Abdullah wants to restore credibility and confidence to his cabinet and if he wants to keep Umno united and wants to make sure everyone is together and cohesive, I don’t think it would be a good idea to appoint Khairy to the cabinet at this point.
Dr Loh Chi Leong: Executive Director, Malaysian Nature Society
I support a mix of old and new blood in the cabinet.
I think it’s more important that the various ministries continue to work more closely with the public and NGO community. - to ensure more transparency
I applauded the formation of the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment but a tendency toward "comparmentalisation" has stymied progress. Although good policies have been formulated, cross-sectoral collaboration has not been ideal.
The ministries must improve cooperation between federal and state departments. For example, green lung policies had been approved at the federal level but not enforced at the state level.
Honey Tan: Executive Director, All Women’s Action Society (Awam)
The prime minister should appoint or retain ministers who uphold good governance. This means women and men who believe in and will promise to practice a more participatory form of government, uphold the rule of law, be transparent and responsive, make decisions which are more based on consensus, champion a more equitable distribution of wealth and resources, be efficient and accountable to the rakyat – not the parties to which they belong.
On downsizing cabinet: The women's ministry should remain and stand alone, and not be consolidated with any other ministries or to fall under the Prime Minister's Department as it did in the past. However, having a Women's Ministry does not absolve the government from ensuring that gender main streaming is effectively implemented throughout the other ministries and agencies.
On new women's minister: The new women's minister must get across to everyone that gender equality matters. New minister must also push for CEDAW to be passed into law in Malaysia. It was ratified in 1995, but still not made into law in a holistic manner.
BN government could be brave and innovative. Choose people who may not be from BN component parties. We have capable women from the opposition parties. PM could even appoint someone from the women's movement who have expertise in this area.
On Khairy Jamaluddin being a minister: Any MP who upholds the principle of good governance as laid out above would be an asset to the cabinet and to the country.
