Headline New cabinet will lead BN into GEM MediaTitle New Straits Times Date 28 Jun 2016 Language English Circulation 74,711 Readership 240,000 Section Local News Color Full Color Page No 3 ArticleSize 267 cm² AdValue RM 9,168 PR Value RM 27,504 New cabinet will lead BN into GEM STRATEGIC: Appointments will strengthen coalition ahead of polls, say analysts election. responsibility. "It is a known fact that Noh had "Another Sabahan leader, Datuk made significant contributions to Datu Nasrun Datu Mansur, has also BN's win there. been appointed as a deputy min­ "I foresee that Noh will have free ister. It is a significant gain for rein over the design and execution Sabah." of BN's battle plan in Selangor." University of Tasmania's Asia In­ Khoo said the appointment of stitute director Professor Dr James Gerakan president Datuk Seri Mah Chin said Najib's decision not to axe THE unveiling of the new cab­ Siew Keong as plantation industries any minister from the cabinet meant inet line­up marks an impor­ and commodities minister was a big that the prime minister was con­ tant first step by Prime Min­ win for the multiracial party. fident in his team's strength. ister Datuk Seri Najib Razak in "Mah is now in charge of a min­ "I am surprised nobody was charting Barisan Nasional's course istry that is traditionally held by a dropped (from cabinet). towards the 14th General Election. Gerakan leader. It's a big morale "It means he has a solid cabinet While many have regarded the booster for the party," he said, that supports him 100 per cent. reshuffle to be a routine "fill­in­the­ adding that Mah's appointment was "However, the appointment of on­ blanks" exercise, Najib's highly an­ a recognition of Gerakan's impor­ ly one Parti Pesaka Bumiputera tant role in BN. ticipated announcement yesterday Bersatu (PBB) leader was unexpect­ revealed several major strategic ap­ The late former Gerakan president ed. Many had predicted that PBB pointments. Tun Dr Lim Keng Yaik had held the vice­president and Deputy Rural The appointments, said analysts, same portfolio from 1986 to 2004, and Regional Development Minister would strengthen Umno and its BN during which he made Malaysia one Datuk Alexander Nanta Linggi partners ahead of what could well be of the largest palm oil producing would be appointed as a full min­ countries in the world. a hotly contested general election. ister." Universiti Sains Malaysia's Profes­ The biggest surprise, they said, Najib's cabinet was slightly sor Dr Sivamurugan Pandian said was the appointment of Selangor BN trimmed. There are now nine min­ although it was a minor cabinet chairman Tan Sri Noh Omar as ur­ isters and three deputy ministers in ban wellbeing, housing and local restructuring exercise, Najib had the Prime Minister's Department, government minister. strengthened the government lead­ compared with 11 ministers and two "Noh's unexpected return to the ership by appointing both new faces deputy ministers previously. cabinet will greatly bolster his po­ and experienced leaders. The latest cabinet shake­up is the sition in BN. "Overall, it is a well­balanced cab­ third reshuffle since the 13th Gen­ "This will definitely aid his at­ inet, but there is one less woman eral Election in 2013 and would pos­ tempt to recapture Selangor from minister and one less minister from sibly be the last before the next the opposition," said political pun­ Sarawak. polls. dit Khoo Kay Peng yesterday. "What is interesting, however, is It is highly likely that Najib has Professor Dr Azizuddin Mohd that a Sabahan minister (Datuk Ab­ assembled the final line­up that will Sani, from Universiti Utara dul Rahman Dahlan) has been given lead the coalition into the next gen­ Malaysia, said: "Noh's appointment the task of heading the Economic eral election. comes on the heels of BN's big win in Planning Unit, which is a very heavy w [email protected] the Sungai Besar parliamentary by­.