LETTER | Apart from the Prime Minister’s Department and the 13 ministries already announced by the Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad there remains another 11 ministries from the previous BN administration that have yet to have ministers appointed.
However, some of the remaining 11 ministries can be merged or consolidated into the existing ministries to reduce operating expenditure and to prevent overlapping functions and duties. Among them:
Ministry of Domestic, Trade, Co-operatives and Consumerism (KPDNKK) should be merged into the Ministry of Economic Affairs (MEA);
Ministry of Energy, Green Technology and Water (KeTTHA) to be maintained without Green Technology. It can be renamed as the Ministry of Energy and Water Resources;
Ministry of the Federal Territories (KWP) to be maintained;
Ministry of Foreign Affairs (KLN/Wisma Putra) to be maintained;
Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI) should be merged into the MEA;
Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment (NRE) to be maintained;
Ministry of Plantation Industries and Commodities (MPIC) to be merged into the Ministry of Agriculture and Agro-based Industry (MOA) to be renamed the Ministry of Agriculture, Plantations and Commodities;
Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (Mosti) to be maintained but Green Technology is to be incorporated into this ministry;
Ministry of Tourism and Culture (Motac) to be re-organised with Tourism transferred to the MEA and the existing ministry renamed the Ministry of Arts, Culture and Heritage;
Ministry of Public Works (KKR) to be maintained; and
Ministry of Youth and Sports (KBS) to be maintained.
In addition, the following new ministries should be created to reduce the number of departments, agencies, statutory bodies, foundations and organisations that are found in the Prime Minister’s Department (JPM) and also in respect of devolution of powers to Sabah and Sarawak:
Ministry of Law, Justice and Constitutional Affairs (MLJC);
Ministry of Sabah Affairs; and
Ministry of Sarawak Affairs.
The JPM cannot be sustained with 62 departments and agencies, 15 statutory bodies, 14 companies, six foundations and one international organisation with a whopping 33,908 personnel and a budget of RM15.9 billion in 2017.
The re-organisation of the JPM should be as follows:
Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA/APMM) to be transferred to the Ministry of Home Affairs (KDN);
National Disaster Management Agency (NADMA/APBN) to be transferred to the KDN;
Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Affairs Division (BHEPMM) to be merged with the MMEA/APMM if required and transferred to the KDN;
Legal Affairs Division (BHEUU) including the Legal Aid Department (JBG) and the Department of Insolvency Malaysia (MdI) to be transferred to the MLJC;
Integrity and Governance Division (BITU) to be maintained;
Ceremonial and International Conference Secretariat Division (BIUPA) to be maintained;
Cabinet, Constitution and Inter-Governmental Relations Division (BKPP) to be maintained;
New Villages in Peninsular Malaysia Division (BKB) to be transferred to the Ministry of Housing and Local Government (KPKT);
Research Division including the Malaysian External Intelligence Organisation (MEIO) to be abolished;
Permata Division to be transferred to the Ministry of Education (KPM);
Property and Land Management Division (BPH) to be maintained;
Protection Division (UPS) to be maintained;
Public Complaints Bureau (BPA) to be transferred to the MLJC;
National Civics Bureau (BTN) to be abolished;
Eastern Sabah Security Command (Esscom) to be transferred to the Ministry of Defence (Kementah);
Judicial and Legal Training Institute (ILKAP) to be transferred to the MLJC;
Istana Negara to be maintained;
National Audit Department to be transferred to the Ministry of Finance (MOF);
Department of Islamic Development (Jakim) including the Federal Territories Islamic Affairs Department (Jawi) to be organised into a newly created Islamic Affairs Division (IAD);
Syariah Judiciary Department (JKSM) including the Federal Territories Syariah Court (MSWP) to be transferred to the IAD;
Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC) to be transferred to the MLJC;
Public Services Department (PSD/JPA) including the National Institute for Public Administration (Intan) to be maintained;
Department of National Unity and Integration (JPNIN) to be transferred to the KDN;
Malaysian Civil Defence Force (APM) to be transferred to the KDN;
Department of Wakaf, Zakat and Haji (Jawhar) to be transferred to the IAD;
Advisory Board (LP) to be abolished;
Sabah Commercial Vehicle Licensing Board (LPKP Sabah) to be transferred to the Ministry of Sabah Affairs;
Sarawak Commercial Vehicle Licensing Board (LPKP Sarawak) to be transferred to the Ministry of Sarawak Affairs;
National Security Council (MKN) to be abolished;
Parliament of Malaysia to be made an independent department under the Speaker of the Dewan Rakyat;
Chief Government Security Office (KPKK) to be maintained;
Federal Territories Mufti’s Office to be transferred to the IAD;
Office of the Keeper of the Rulers’ Seal of the Conference of Rulers, Malaysia to be maintained;
Seranta (Felda) to be abolished;
Sabah Federal Secretary’s Office to be transferred to the Ministry of Sabah Affairs;
Sarawak Federal Secretary’s Office to be transferred to the Ministry of Sarawak Affairs;
Federal Territories Director of Lands and Mines Office (PTGWP) including the Federal Territory of Putrajaya Lands and Mines Office and the Federal Territory of Labuan Lands and Mines Office to be transferred to the Ministry of the Federal Territories;
Secretariat Office of Tun Dr Mahathir bin Mohamad to be abolished;
Secretariat Office of Tun Abdullah bin Haji Ahmad Badawi to be abolished;
Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) to be maintained;
Judicial Appointments Commission (SPK) to be made into an independent commission answerable to Parliament;
Election Commission of Malaysia (EC/SPR) to be made into an independent commission answerable to Parliament;
Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC/SPRM) to be made into an independent commission answerable to Parliament;
Public Services Commission (PSC/SPA) to be maintained;
Education Service Commission (ESC/SPP) to be transferred to the KPM;
Felda Regulatory Unit (UKSF) to be abolished;
Public Private Partnership Unit (UKAS) to be transferred to the Ministry of Economic Affairs (MEA);
Hawkers, Petty Traders and Hindu Endowment Development Unit (UPPPKWH) to be transferred to the Ministry of Housing and Local Government (KPKT) except for the Hindu Endowment Development Unit which is to be transferred to the Task Force on Minorities, Indian and Orang Asli Affairs;
SME and Micro Credit Development Unit to be transferred to the MEA;
Malaysian Administrative Modernisation and Management Planning Unit (Mampu) to be maintained;
Performance Management and Delivery Unit (Pemandu) to be abolished;
Implementation Coordination Unit (ICU) including the Federal Development Department of Sabah and the Federal Development Department for Sarawak to be transferred to the MEA, Ministry of Sabah Affairs and Ministry of Sarawak Affairs respectively;
Economic Planning Unit (EPU) to be transferred to the MEA;
Federal Territories Land Executive Committee Secretariat (UJKT) to be transferred to the Ministry of the Federal Territories;
Office of the Registrar of the Federal Court to be transferred to the MLJC;
Special Innovation Unit to be abolished;
Office of the Scientific Advisor (OSA) transferred to Mosti;
Special Unit Programme for Socio-economic Development of the Indian Community (Sedic) to be abolished;
Special Implementation Task Force on the Indian Community (SITF) to be abolished;
National Innovation Agency (AIM) transferred to Mosti;
Raja-Raja and the Yang di-Pertua-Yang di-Pertua Negeri Higher Studies Scholarship Fund Board transferred to the KPM;
Federal Land Development Authority (Felda) transferred to the MEA;
Penang Regional Development Authority (Perda) to be abolished;
Regional Corridor Development Authority Sarawak (Recoda) to be abolished;
Pilgrimage Fund Board (LTH) to be transferred to the IAD;
Federal Territories Islamic Religious Council (MAIWP) transferred to the IAD;
East Coast Economic Region Development Council (ECERDC) to be abolished;
PR1MA Corporation Malaysia transferred to the KPKT;
Northern Corridor Implementation Authority (NCIA) to be abolished;
Sabah Economic Development and Investment Authority (Sedia) to be abolished;
Iskandar Regional Development Authority (Irda) to be transferred to the MEA;
Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) to be made an independent commission answerable to Parliament;
Enforcement Agency Integrity Commission (EAIC) to be abolished;
Land Public Transport Commission (Spad) to be abolished;
Al-Hijrah Media Corporation to be transferred to the Ministry of Communication and Multimedia (KKMM);
Amanah Raya Berhad to be transferred to the MLJC;
Ekuiti Nasional Berhad (Ekuinas) to be transferred to the MEA;
Malaysian Institute of Integrity (IIM) to be transferred to the MLJC;
Institute of Strategic and International Studies (Isis) to be transferred to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (KLN);
Institute of Islamic Understanding (IKIM) to be transferred to the IAD;
International Multilateral Partnership Against Cyber Threats (Impact) to be transferred to the KDN;
National Council of Professors (MPN) to be abolished;
Malaysia Petroleum Resources Corporation (MPRC) to be transferred to the MEA;
Malaysian Industry-Government Group for High Technology (MiGHT) to be transferred to Mosti;
Malaysia Nuclear Power Corporation (MNPC) to be transferred to Mosti;
Petroliam Nasional Berhad (Petronas) to be transferred to the MEA;
Talent Corporation Malaysia Berhad (TalentCorp) to be transferred to the MEA;
Bumiputera Agenda Steering Committee (Teraju) to be transferred to the MEA;
Islamic Dakwah Foundation of Malaysia (Yadim) to be transferred to the IAD;
Malaysian Islamic Economic Development Foundation (YaPeim) to be transferred to the MEA;
Malaysian Wakaf Foundation (YWM) to be transferred to the IAD;
National Equity Foundation (YEN) to be abolished;
Bumiputera Education Steering Foundation (YPPB) to be transferred to the KPM;
1 Malaysia Hawkers and Petty Traders Foundation (YPPKM) to be abolished; and
Kuala Lumpur Regional Centre for Arbitration (KLRCA) to be transferred to the MLJC.
The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of Malaysiakini.
