PENANG deputy chief minister Prof P Ramasamy criticised Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Yaakob for retaining the old Cabinet team of his predecessor, albeit some “cosmetic changes”.

“It looks like forming new Governments with frequent changes to Cabinet positions is like a game of musical chairs.

“Except for the ‘cosmetic changes’, our new Cabinet is actually the same old one, except that Umno has received its ‘pound of flesh’ from Ismail by having a slight edge over Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu).

“One thing is clear, there is nothing to suggest that the new Government, with the same old faces, might be anything different,” he said in a statement.

Yesterday, Ismail Sabri raised eyebrows by retaining almost all of the ministers who served his predecessor, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, albeit minor changes such as the appointment of Datuk Seri Ahmad Faizal Azumu to become Youth and Sports Minister and Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim becoming the Federal Territories Minister.

However, the Bera MP said that his team will be given 100 days to prove their mettle, by drafting long-term and short-term plans to help the people.

“And I want my Cabinet team to be transparent in their approach and focus on giving their best,” he was reported saying.

However, Ramasamy was amused by Ismail Sabri’s announcement, adding the latter cannot expect the best from the same team that had failed before.

“Forget 100 days, it will be a miracle if they can even perform in the next one year. If they couldn’t deliver in the last 16 months, how are they to perform in the next 100 days?

“I believe Ismail Sabri has set a target that cannot be achieved. Nevertheless, if the Cabinet doesn’t perform, is he willing to remove or replace them?” he asked.

Sheer madness

Selangor state executive councillor (exco) V Ganabatirau echoed Ramasamy’s sentiments, calling the reappointment of the old Cabinet team as sheer “madness”.

“What I see is the failed Cabinet team enjoying a two-week break before being reappointed,” he told FocusM.

Ganabatirau added that it was upsetting that Gabungan Parti Sarawak’s (GPS) request for a deputy prime minister and Rural and Regional Development Ministry posts were conveniently ignored despite the Government coming into power with its support.

“Is GPS being played out by Umno? In fact, even senior Umno leaders such as Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said, Asyraf Wajid Dusuki and Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan were left out.

“Even though Cabinet appointment is the prerogative of the sitting prime minister, it is not healthy for the latter to ignore the people’s voice. This is nothing short of another failed Government,” the Kota Kemuning state assemblyperson remarked. – Aug 28, 2021

https://focusmalaysia.my/your-recycled-cabinet-team-wont-last-ramasamy-tells-pm/