'Expect the Unexpected in Polities' 'House in Order': Dropping Muhyiddin Not Autocratic Nor Should It Cast ExDPM As Villain, Analysts Says
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Headline Expect the unexpected in politics MediaTitle New Straits Times Date 29 Jul 2015 Language English Circulation 74,711 Readership 240,000 Section Local News Color Full Color Page No 8 ArticleSize 732 cm² AdValue RM 25,136 PR Value RM 75,408 'Expect the unexpected in polities' 'house in order': Dropping Muhyiddin not autocratic nor should it cast exDPM as villain, analysts says SYED UMAR ARIFF AND ADRIAN LAI news@)nst.com.my A GROUP of Wanita Umno and his removal was not through a has displayed his authority and peo leaders huddled at Datuk Seri cabinet reshuffle, where it was com ple who disagree with him must be Shahrizat Abdul Jalil's Hari mon to witness changes in lineups. weeded out." Raya Aidilfltri open house was at a Najib has a responsibility to up He said it was important for Najib loss over the surprise announce hold and a series of objectives to to maintain unity in the government ment made in Putrajaya just after meet to drive the country forward. if it wanted to proceed with its na lunch. As the head of the government, he tional development agenda and to Some shed tears, but they soon cannot allow dissent to undermine perform well in the next general election. overcame their emotion, vowing to his administration. respect the decision of Prime Min He should not be distracted Najib's new administration was ister Datuk Seri Najib Razak on the by infighting, especially when not formed solely out of political choice of his new No 2. Barisan Nasional needs to consol interests, judging from the number Shahrizat, who later welcomed idate and regroup for the next gen of changes made — 17 reappoint Najib and his family to her house, eral election. ments, portfolio changes and inclu spoke on how the party should move The rapport between the No 1 and sions. Only five were dropped from on, not look back. the No 2 in the government and the the list. "In politics, we must always ex party, is also crucial to ensure po "The country's economy is per pect the unexpected," she said. litical fluency. forming well and what is important Malaysians are still digesting the Political analyst Professor now is to stop internal bickering. news that Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin Datuk Abdul Halim Sidek said ap "Now that he has put his house in has been dropped as deputy prime pointed ministers had the collective order, it is up to the prime minister minister, apparently after his com responsibility to support the prime to navigate his course and his new ments, mostly made privately, on minister and should refrain from team to follow him." IMalaysia Development Bhd making adverse opinions that con Another political analyst, Associ (1MDB). tradicted the cabinet's decisions. ate Professor Dr Mohd Azizuddin But the straw that broke the Mohd Sani from Universiti Utara camel's back was when he used the "As a minister is appointed and handpicked by the prime min Malaysia, said Najib's move to drop Cheras Umno divisional meeting on ister, he must always toe the line. If ministers was crucial to prevent Sunday night to criticise Najib and he is unable to agree with the cab them from creating a bad image of the government over the handling of inet's collective opinion, then the government. the 1MDB issue, a move that some he must step down and resign," he "This will be the last cabinet equated to a declaration of war. told the New Straits Times yester reshuffle before the next general To some, his outburst, despite be day. election. ing the No 2 in the government and a He said the recent statements "That is why the prime minister member of the cabinet that should made by certain ministers were needs a solid team behind him share collective responsibility, could in contravention of the concept of to face issues more effectively. He amount to insubordination. collective responsibility. has also sent out a clear signal to Najib's bold decision to drop his "British politics have set an im newly appointed ministers that ev deputy from the cabinet, together peccable example; ministers who eryone in the cabinet must fully sup with five ministers and deputy min disagree with the prime minister port the government's agenda." isters, may be controversial but should resign immediately. Azizuddin said while Najib's de should not, analysts say, be viewed "Based on what was uttered by cision took many by surprise, the as autocratic nor one that casts certain ministers recently, the real challenge would be to prove the Muhyiddin as the villain. reshuffle comes as no surprise." new lineup's effectiveness in exe Najib had himself referred to the Halim, the National Professors' cuting tasks. fact that it was a difficult decision Council deputy political cluster "At the same time, it will be in to make, as Muhyiddin's contribu head, said ministers who wished to teresting to observe the reaction tions to the country had been im make public and statements to the among Umno members and the mense. prime minister's stand should have public. The opposition has made a half done so after tendering their res "If the criticism against Najib baked attempt to compare Muhyid ignations. grows loud, it shows that the public din's political trajectory to the fall of "A strong team can only be built if has yet to warm up to the changes Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, but there there is a spirit of togetherness. made. But, then again, public per are no parallels — Anwar was sacked "Realising this, the prime minister ception can change with time." Headline Expect the unexpected in politics MediaTitle New Straits Times Date 29 Jul 2015 Language English Circulation 74,711 Readership 240,000 Section Local News Color Full Color Page No 8 ArticleSize 732 cm² AdValue RM 25,136 PR Value RM 75,408 New faces in cabinet INfoCRAPI 1lcNSI' L Science, Technology and Innovation 4. Communications and Multimedia I 6, Deputy Home Minister: 10. Deputy Natural Resources and Environmental Minister: Minister: ■ Datuk Nur Jazlan Mohamed Minister: ■ Datuk WilfredMadiusTangau ■ Datuk Seri Dr Salleh Said Keruak e 2004now: MP for Pulai, Johor ■ Datuk Hamim Samuri • United Pasokmomogun Kadazaridusun • MPfor Semporna, Sabah • Eldest son of former information • 2004now: MP for Ledang, Johor Murut Organisation (Upko) a2 011now: Sabah State Assembly minister Tan Sri Mohamed Rahmat •Umno member speaker • 2004: left his corporate life to 2. Minister in the Prime Minister's #19941996: Sabah chief minister contest in the 12th General Election 11. Deputy Defence Minister: Department: # Serves as the state assemblyman for ■ Datuk Mohd JohariBaharum ■ Datuk Sari Azaitna Othman Said the electoral district of Usukan 7. Deputy Home Minister: • 2004now: MPfor Kubang Pasu, Kedah • Head of Pengerang Umno # Sabah Umno Liaison deputy chairman ■ Masir Kujat #Umno member • Chairman of the Women's Caucus * Also presides over Sabah United Bajau ® MPfor Sri Aman, Sarawak Croup Organisation (USBO) & Sarawak Peoples' Party member 12. Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister s Department: • 2004now: MP for Pengerang, Johor # Has held positions in the Sabah ■ DatidcDr AsyrafWajdi Dusuki • 20082009: Tourism minister Cabinet. In many years, he was the 8. Deputy Tourism Minister: • President of fslamicDa'wah Foundation Malaysia • 20042008: Youth and sports minister . finance minister, local government ■ Datuk Mas ErmieyatiSamsucHn (Yadim) • 20022004: First Puteri Umno chief and housing minister and deputy chief • MPfor Masjid Tanah, Malacca #Umnomember minister $ Puteri Umno Chief 3. International Trade and Industry 13. Deputy Finance Minister: Ministeril: ■ Datuk Johari Abdul Ghani ■ Datuk Seri Ong Ka Chuan 5. Deputy foreign Affairs Minister: 9. Deputy Education Minister: » MP for Titiwangsa, Kuala Lumpur • 2008now: MPforTanjung Malim, ■ Datuk Seri ReezaJ Merkan Naina ■ Cheng Sin Woon • Titiwangsa Umno division head Perak Merkan «MCA Youth national chief # Chairman of UDA Holdings • 20042008: MPfor Batu Cajah, Perak m MPfor Kepala Batas, Penang • Dewan Negara senator « Chairman of the Foundation Bena Nusa « 19861999: State assemblyman for • Umno Supreme Council member • 20042008: Special assistant to Chenderiang, Perak • Amanah Raya Berhad {AmanahRaya} political secretary of former prime 14. Deputy Minister of Rural and Regional Development: • Former housing and local government chairman ministerTun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi I Datuk Ahmad JarianYaakid) minister ©Worked in the banking sector before a 20012003: Special assistant to «MPfor Machang, Kelantan • MCA secretarygeneral entering politics deputy minister of youth & sports * Machang Umno division head Professor Datuk Abdul Halim Sidek says appointed ministers have the collective responsibility to support the prime minister Headline Expect the unexpected in politics MediaTitle New Straits Times Date 29 Jul 2015 Language English Circulation 74,711 Readership 240,000 Section Local News Color Full Color Page No 8 ArticleSize 732 cm² AdValue RM 25,136 PR Value RM 75,408 Associate Professor Dr Mohd Azizuddin Mohd Sani says the real challenge is to prove the new lineup's effectiveness.