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Wednesday, December 13, 2023

NEW UNITY CABINET 2023 ; RESOLVE PEOPLE'S ISSUES QUICKLY

Cabinet reshuffle: Full list of unity govt ministers and ...

UALA LUMPUR, Dec 12 — Following is the full list of Cabinet ministers and deputy ministers in the unity government following the Cabinet reshuffle announced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim today.

Prime Minister and Minister of Finance

Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim

Minister of Finance II

Datuk Seri Amir Hamzah Azizan (new)

Deputy Minister of Finance

Lim Hui Ying (formerly Deputy Education Minister)

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Rural and Regional Development

Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi

Deputy Minister of Rural and Regional Development

Datuk Rubiah Wang

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Energy Transition and Public Utilities (a new ministry — split from the Ministry of Natural Resources, Environment and Climate Change (NRECC))

Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof (also in charge of Sabah, Sarawak Affairs)

Deputy Minister of Energy Transition and Public Utilities

Akmal Nasrullah Mohd Nasir

Minister of Transport

Anthony Loke Siew Fook

Deputy Minister of Transport

Datuk Hasbi Habibollah

Minister of Agriculture and Food Securities

Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu

Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Food Securities

Datuk Arthur Joseph Kurup (formerly Deputy Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation)

Minister of Economy

Rafizi Ramli

Deputy Minister of Economy

Datuk Hanifah Hajar Taib

Minister of Local Government Development

Nga Kor Ming

Deputy Minister of Local Government Development

Datuk Aiman Athirah Sabu (formerly Deputy Minister of Women, Family and Community Development)

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan (formerly Minister of Defence)

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs

Datuk Mohamad Alamin

Minister of Works

Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi

Deputy Minister of Works

Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan (formerly Deputy Minister of Finance)

Minister of Home Affairs

Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail

Deputy Minister of Home Affairs

Datuk Seri Dr Shamsul Anuar Nasarah

Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry

Datuk Seri Tengku Zafrul Abdul Aziz

Deputy Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry

Liew Chin Tong

Minister of Defence

Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin (formerly Minister of Higher Education)

Deputy Minister of Defence

Adly Zahari

Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation

Chang Lih Kang

Deputy Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation

Datuk Mohammad Yusof Apdal (formerly Deputy Higher Education Minister)

Minister of Women, Family and Community Development

Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri

Deputy Minister of Women, Family and Community Development

Datuk Seri Noraini Ahmad (new)

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform)

Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said

Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform)

M.Kulasegaran (new)

Minister of Natural Resources and Sustainability (a new ministry — split from NRECC)

Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad

Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and Sustainability

Datuk Seri Huang Tiong Sii

Minister of Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives

Datuk Ewon Benedick

Deputy Minister of Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives

Datuk R. Ramanan (new)

Minister of Higher Education

Datuk Seri Zambry Abd Kadir (formerly Minister of Foreign Affairs)

Deputy Minister of Higher Education

Datuk Mustapha @ Mohd Yunus Sakmud (formerly Deputy Minister of Human Resources)

Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture

Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing

Deputy Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture

Khairul Firdaus Akbar Khan

Minister of Communications (a new ministry — split from Ministry of Communications and Digital)

Fahmi Fadzil

Deputy Minister of Communications

Teo Nie Ching

Minister of Education

Fadhlina Sidek

Deputy Minister of Education

Wong Kah Woh (new)

Minister of Unity

Datuk Aaron Ago Anak Dagang

Deputy Minister of Unity

Saraswathy Kandasami (formerly Deputy Minister of Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives)

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs)

Datuk Mohd Na’im Mokhtar

Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs)

Zulkifli Hassan (new)

Minister of Youth and Sports

Hannah Yeoh

Deputy Minister of Youth and Sports

Adam Adli Abd Halim

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Federal Territories)

Dr Zaliha Mustafa (formerly Minister of Health)

Minister of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living

Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali (formerly Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department in charge of Sabah, Sarawak Affairs and Special Functions)

Deputy Minister of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living

Fuziah Salleh

Minister of Plantation and Commodities

Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani (new)

Deputy Minister of Plantation and Commodities

Datuk Chan Foon Hin (formerly Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Food Securities)

Minister of Health

Datuk Seri Dzulkefly Ahmad (new)

Deputy Minister of Health

Datuk Lukanisman Awang Sauni

Minister of Digital (a new ministry — split from Ministry of Communications and Digital)

Gobind Singh Deo

Deputy Minister of Digital

Datuk Ugak Anak Kumbong (formerly Deputy Minister of Special Functions and Sabah, Sarawak Affairs)

Minister of Human Resources

Steven Sim Chee Keong (new)

Deputy Minister of Human Resources

Datuk Seri Abdul Rahman Mohamad (formerly Deputy Minister of Works) — Bernama

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Resolve people's issues quickly

New cabinet must prioritise tackling economic issues, say interest groups

PETALING JAYA: People’s issues – cost of living pressures, economic recovery and spurring investments – are the key issues that the new Cabinet must deliver amid a challenging 2024 outlook, say economic experts and business groups.

They say the new line-up must work fast to tackle the economic challenges, while delivering the promised key electoral and institutional reforms to demonstrate their capacity for governance.

Institute for Democracy and Economic Affairs (Ideas) chief executive officer Dr Tricia Yeoh said through the restructuring, the government is sending the signal that the issues of economy, health and cost of living are the key areas of focus, as seen in the new appointments.

She noted that the appointment of Datuk Seri Amir Hamzah Azizan as the Second Finance Minister in Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s latest Cabinet line-up has been “highly anticipated”.

The former EPF chief executive officer’s appointment is also likely to be welcomed by the market, given his strong corporate background, having been in Tenaga Nasional Bhd and MISC Bhd before joining EPF, said Yeoh.

“This appointment will strengthen the Finance Ministry’s policy execution and hopefully speed up the ministry’s plans towards fiscal consolidation,” she said.

Meanwhile, Yeoh said the new Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali will have to focus on addressing cost of living issues, which has been the primary driver of dissatisfaction among voters in their perception of Anwar’s administration.

She also said the return of former ministers Gobind Singh Deo and Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad to the Cabinet in their respective roles as Digital Minister and Health Minister was interesting as they had experience under the previous Pakatan Harapan administration.

Prof Dr Chung Tin Fah of HELP University said the new Cabinet must focus on delivering its manifesto promises, including bringing down cost of living, creating a more equitable social class, raising investment to grow the economy, and higher wages to share in growth prosperity.

“Investments and productivity are key drivers to help achieve these seemingly diverse goals,” he said.

Socio-Economic Research Centre (SERC) executive director Lee Heng Guie said the government has to execute the promised reforms and policies to strengthen the country’s economic resilience against the still uncertain global environment in 2024.

“The government needs to rebuild trust with the people and businesses that it can deliver better outcomes through good governance and responsible fiscal management,” he said, adding that easing cost of doing business, creating a better investment climate, mitigating the higher cost of living, and generating better income jobs should be the economic agenda.

SME Association of Malaysia president Ding Hong Sing said economic development must be prioritised as the country’s economy has yet to improve while the cost of living continues to rise.

“In this regard, our expectations are high for the Second Finance Minister, Datuk Seri Amir Hamzah Azizan.

“With his extensive management experience in EPF, we believe he can play a crucial role in revitalising the national economy,” he said, adding that Hamzah must engage with the business sector and listen to industry suggestions before implementing policies.

“Ensuring the Minister comprehends the influence their policies may have on the business sector is pivotal. We must steer clear of any policies that could hinder our progress,” he said.

Ding also said that SMEs are more than willing to collaborate with the newly appointed Human Resources Minister Steven Sim to improve operations and drive the growth of the economy.

Kuala Lumpur and Selangor Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry president Nivas Ragavan said the reshuffling is expected to serve as a positive beginning for 2024, particularly in bolstering efforts to enhance economic growth.

The government’s immediate focus must now be to address issues such as unemployment, inflation and economic recovery, said Nivas.

“The foreign direct investments secured in 2023 by the Investment, Trade and Industry Ministry during the trade delegations to various countries especially China and the United States should be quickly realised in 2024 so that adequate employment, business opportunities in the supply chain, and significant growth of the gross domestic product can be attained.

“We also hope that the Cabinet will concentrate on more reforms in 2024,” he said.

Associated Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Malaysia president Tan Sri Low Kian Chuan said the new Cabinet must work to implement promised reforms and policies.

Low emphasised the necessity of improving income levels and mitigating the impact of the rising cost of living, as well as the importance of close cooperation between the ministries and civil servants to enhance public delivery of services, streamlining of business investment procedures, and the reduction in the overall cost of doing business.

Low added the new ministers should prioritise these key areas, acknowledging the pressing need to address the cost of living challenges that Malaysians face.

Malay Chamber of Commerce president Norsyahrin Hamidon said the country’s economy has not fully recovered and numerous SMEs continue to face significant challenges.

He hoped that the new ministers, especially the Second Finance Minister, would quickly inject their expertise towards economic recovery and the strengthening of businesses, though he added that it is important that the new Cabinet members be given six months to demonstrate their capabilities.

Saturday, August 21, 2021

The economics of politics: Malaysia's leaders should put the people's interests before their own !

THE Sengoku period (also known as the “Warring States period”) of Japan from 1467 to 1615 is a period of great turbulence and unrest due to endless civil war and social upheaval.

` It came about as a result of a political vacuum when the Ashikaga Shogunate collapsed. Advancement of technology during this period also contributed to new warfare. Europeans arriving at the shores of Japan in 1543 introduced the “arquebus”, a type of long gun of its time. It was the same weaponry used by the Portuguese when they invaded the Sultanate of Malacca in 1511.

` I find this period of Japanese history especially fascinating, as this is where samurai warlords such as Oda Nobunaga, Toyotomi Hideyoshi and Tokugawa Ieyasu rose to prominence. Nobunaga was the leading figure and is recognised as one of the “Three Great Unifiers” of Japan. Coming from a relatively small, Oda clan, he became the most powerful Daimyo (feudal lord) of his time. Due to his adoption of “arquebus” and prowess in war, he was a potent force fighting towards a unification of all of Japan.

` He was succeeded by Hideyoshi, after being forced to commit seppuku in Kyoto when a retainer samurai general, Akechi Mitsushide, launched a coup. Hideyoshi was Nobunaga’s loyal general who rose through the ranks from a foot soldier. He completed Nobunaga’s unification agenda from the existing foundation laid and became the de facto leader of his time.

` Sadly, blinded by his political ambition to expand territories beyond Japan, he launched an ill-fated Korean invasion which damaged Japan’s own domestic economy due to prolonged military stalemate.

` After his death, his five-year-old son, Toyotami Hideyori, succeeded him under the guidance of a Council of Five Regents. It wasn’t until 17 years later before the conflict between Toyotami loyalist supporting Hideyori as a rightful ruler of Japan and Ieyasu, the regent and most influential Daimyo then, imploded leading to the Battle of Sekigahara. Ieyasu won and it ushered 250 years of peace and economic growth known as the Edo Period (Tokugawa Era).

` As our country is in the midst of a second major political impasse after only 18 months and looking to have its third government in three years, this raises the issue of the cost of politics towards our country’s economy and its overall wellbeing.

` Looking back, the Sengoku period was a time of political turmoil where espionage, betrayals and revenge were ordinary course of daily business. It is no different from modern politics today minus the bloodshed. The whole cloak-and-dagger operations beneath the glamorous guise of democracy today hinges on personal interests over the greater good of the people. Hence, almost always the people end up paying the greatest price in the economics of politics.

` The current geopolitical issue in Afghanistan is a clear testament of the cost of politics and poor foreign policy of the United States. After spending US$1 trillion (RM4.2 trillion) of taxpayers’ money, sacrificing 2,448 Americans lives with 20,722 more wounded over 20 years, the longest spanning foreign war in the US’ history is officially drawing to a close. However, at what cost?

` The withdrawal of troops has a left a vacuum in Afghanistan where the “elected” government was overran by armed Taliban. Even president Ashraf Ghani fled the country with cars and choppers filled with cash. The innocent citizens of Afghanistan are left to fend for themselves, while those deemed pro-American are fearing for their lives. Innocent people of both countries paid the ultimate price for US disastrous foreign policy which benefited nobody except weapons manufacturers, arms dealers, pro-war politicians and lobbyist. This is the real cost of politics on full display.

Afghan President Flees with 4 Cars & Helicopter Full of Cash

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` Of course, there are economics positives that comes out from politics too. After all, politicians plays the role of lawmakers of a country and policies crafted will have direct consequences on the economics of a nation (refer to China’s GDP Growth chart below).

` Deng Xiaoping, the de facto paramount leader of China inherited a country when it was suffering from poverty and ill effects of policies such as the “Great Leap Forward” and “Cultural Revolution” implemented during Mao-era. He instituted a series of reforms including the most crucial “Opening Up of China” (Gai Ge Kai Fang) which pivoted China from a planned economy to a socialist market economy (also known as socialist capitalism).

` I remembered asking my economics professor in LSE years ago, “who is your favourite economist of all time?” Without hesitation, he said “Deng Xiaoping. This man may be small in size but he is enormous in stature. He is great because he had the vision to institute economic reforms steering from old ways for the world’s most populous nation. By doing so, he saved countless of lives.”

` Relating to the current political predicament in our country, I realised how Deng Xiaoping was not your ordinary politician. Unknown to many, he did not actually hold official leadership position in Government or the Chinese Communist Party when he was instituting reforms. Yet, his policies from 1978 onwards laid the foundation for what would make China the second largest economy and superpower of the world today. He is a statesman without honorifics, position and title.

` China’s GDP Growth Chart shown in the above

` Economics and politics always go hand in hand. Both cannot be looked at in isolation. While there are many negative economic indicators for our country at present such as Fitch Solution’s latest 2021 GDP growth forecast downgrade to zero or other rankings which point towards our country’s rapid decline in comparison to regional peers, one should not despair and be overly pessimistic.

` Our country was a beacon of democracy in South East Asia when there was a peaceful transfer of power in 2018 from a regime that ruled for 61 years since Merdeka. Of course, today’s political quandary exposes the flaws within the system but fail safes can be implemented if the leaders are willing to put the people’s interests before their own.

` Japan did not get to where they are today overnight. It was a civilization that went through the bloody Sengoku period. It also showed us that before an era of peace and prosperity comes along, there will be times of turbulence.

` Rest assure, history has shown as society progresses through education and learning from the mistakes of the past, it will mature. That is my hope for the country.

` Ng Zhu Hann, is the author of Once Upon A Time In Bursa. He is a lawyer & former Chief Strategist of a Fortune 500 Corporation. The views expressed here are his own.